Afte serious analysis, my crew and I set up my "new" J-30 in 1997 wth a 153 headsail, shortened the spin pole to lower the handicap and bought a North reaching chute set to fly 4.5 feet above the normal hoist. Much Seattle area racing gives a light air reach up the beach.Our handicap remained the same as a stock J-30 and we had much success in PHRF. I had the chutes that had come with the boat narrowed to match the shorter pole and they worked very well in heavy air, from the lower hoist, when the other 30's were at risk under the wider chutes. There was not enough one designing in the area to be a factor. The conservative chute worked well when the boat sialed to Hawaii.
