IOR designs w/o mainsail for Ocean Crossing

Anyone else experienced ocean crossing w/o a mainsail. What boats and any balance issues?

 

I have sailed the trades with two headsails set on poles. It is an easy way to make a boat self-steer.

 

A boat at sea missing its mainsail will be very underpowered... slow and rolley. a mainsail , when sheeted and prevented , acts to stabilize the boat.

Why would you want to sail without a mainsail ?

 

Two genoas have more sail area than a mainsail and a genoa. IOR boats had smallish mainsails. The double headsail arrangement dampens the roll and is used by many sailors. I have gone up to ten days downwind without hardly touching anything.

 

I'm not clear on your question. Do you have a well founded boat with a servicable main and are asking about electing not to set it, or are you asking about embarking without a servicable mainsail aboard? I wouldn't want to do the latter. The main is required to balance the boat when reefed. Particulary if shorthanded and unable to drive it hard in heavy weather.