Sails & Rigging on board
Sails are the heart of a cruising boat – and the rig its supporting structure. We adapted our setup on the SY Joline step by step: from choosing the headsails to installing a spinnaker and switching to rotating propellers.
Here you will find our practical experience with sail selection, rig trim and maintenance – including tips on handling, reefing and repairs on the go.
🎯 Our choice of sails
We sail with a classic setup plus extras for light winds. Our sails:
✅ Mainsail with lazy bag and 3 reefing rows
✅ Furling genoa with UV protection
✅ Spinnaker (asymmetric, 160m²) with recovery tube
✅ Code 0, 125 m² with furler
???? Spinnaker sailing on a catamaran – Spinnaker sailing explained – our practical tips
🔧 Rigging & Trim
A well-adjusted rig is crucial for safety and speed. Here's how we optimized our rig:
✅ Standing rigging completely replaced
✅ Shrouds and lower shrouds evenly trimmed, ensures better sailing behavior
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⚓ Maneuvers, reefing & everyday practice
We often sail in pairs, and generally all maneuvers are performed single-handed – so every maneuver has to be perfect, especially at night and in difficult weather. This is where theory and practice diverge. Tip: You don't have to go into the wind to reef the sails; you can do it from almost any course.
These adjustments have made our everyday life on board easier:
✅ On Joline, all halyards and sheets, including the reefing lines, are led into the cockpit
✅ Lazyjacks and lazybacks make setting, stowing and reefing the mainsail easier
✅ We do not need a spinnaker pole on our catamaran, the boat is wide enough to sail with a genoa, code 0 or spinnaker effectively
✅ targeted use of rollers and low friction rings with Dyneema loops
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