I am thinking of placing an order for an HR39 However I seem to be getting contradictory information regarding the sail plan.
The basic mainsail and headsail is ok but when offshore in a blow and a storm headsail is required does this have to be flown on the cutter stay with running backstays or is there another suitable arrangement.
Also if the boat is fitted with a cutter stay can it be sailed as a cutter, ie twin headsails, or is this totally impractical
Any HR39 owners out there with experience I would like to hear from you

By trevor way on Friday, March 09, 2001 - 10:12 pm:

Paul--We have a new 39--last year with cutter rig. We have a separate storm sail that we fly from the cutter but then roll in the foresail as the gap between the cutter rig and the main forestay is not that great and this makes tacking with both sails up difficult. Also whilst there are two blocks on the jib sheet tracks for both sheets there is only one turning block to take a single sheet to the winch.So I've fitted separate blocks P & S to the brackets at the base of the pushpit and then take the sheets directly to the winch. When the winds are such that you need the storm jib then you're not likely to want to tie off existing sheets and feed new sheets through the existing blocks.
This makes it sound difficult but we have used it when conditions were rough 40 knots plus and she sailed into the wind with 2 reefs in the main and the cutter rig --fantastic!!
Hope this helps and not too late with the comments
Trevor and Pat Way "Rosabella"

By J. Barton on Monday, January 14, 2002 - 06:37 am:

Paul, I have an HR39, w cutter rig, on order for delivery in late 2002. And I too am concerned about the single turning block. Lewmar has double turning blocks, or single turning block w becket for leading another sheet. There are turning blocks w stppers available, usually used for racing, with significant risk involved(catching a sheet flying through the block).
There is also the problem of no secondary winches. I plan to use the maninsheet winches as secondaries(fitting stoppers to the mainsheet leads), some thinking to do here. In heavy weather, one should not be without a headsail, especially short handed. (My wife and I are crew.) My experience is also to douse the chute behind the jib. A staysail or "blade" is often used with chute to steady the boat, and prevent oscillating, and take strain off the chute.
I have resouces with Harken(Pewaukee, WI/USA) that I am going to use to review the deck hardware.
I do think that the Selden spar is superb. Check with me in June '02, to see how I've resolved these issues.

By Steve & Maggie White on Friday, August 30, 2002 - 10:22 pm:

Ladies/Gentlemen,

I resolved the "Cutter rig conundrum" on our HR39 by making the following modifications:-

1. I replaced the ponderous HR mainsheet system with a Fredrikson two speed (4:1/8:1) ratchet block & tackle system. This freed up the two mainsheet winches for use with the inner foresail sheets which I can leave permanently rigged up..

2. I replaced the single Lewmar footblocks with twin Antal jamming footblocks.I also went for a larger sheave size to reduce friction.This allows me to jam off the sheets not in use.

For example,when flying my cruising spinnaker,I jam off the genoa and staysail/stormjib sheets and use the Main winches for the spinnaker sheets and the two smaller winches for the guys and downhaul.
Althouth, I seldom sail with both inner and outer foresails simultaineously,I am able to leave all sheets out ready for any change in conditions.I usually sail with only my wife, so it is important that either of us can handle and reef the boat on our own.

I have opted for inmast reefing (vertically battened mainsail)and to further assist us I have lead all reefing lines to the cockpit.Except when flying the spinnaker, we never venture on deck.

We are very happy with this arrangement but may eventually opt for some electric winches, as the years are catching up with us!

Hope this is of interest to you.

Maggie and Steve White.
"Rassy Lady"