Advice on taking reefing gear to the cockpit

I sail my Cutlass 27 singlehanded and have kept all lines at mast and with this arrangement have put in the 3rd reef in a F7 and gusting. Boat sailed along about 40 degrees off wind under heavily reefed genoa and self steering (sea feather) eased main so it was flapping, up to mast (hooked on of course!) ease kicker, top up boom, ease halyard, cringle onto horn, tighten up halyard, take in reef lines, ease toping lift, pull in kicker, tidy lines, back to cockpit harden up on main and back on wind.

One part of decision to keep at mast was avoiding friction & where to put all the ropes another was the luff needs to be taken out of track so didnt want to have to elongate track. Less to go wrong too!
 
Why not (if single-handed) just chuck tails of jib sheets and reefing lines down the companionway?

I do that with jib sheet tails when singlehanding an Albin Vega 27. Gets loose lines below deck where they cant go over the side and cause grief..
 
Karouise said:
Vega1447 said:
Why not (if single-handed) just chuck tails of jib sheets and reefing lines down the companionway?QUOTE]

Wouldnt be my choice - wet lines to slip on when going below to check chart / make tea etc . I try and keep the cabin dry.
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Yebbut.

I'd rather slip on a line below deck than in the cockpit.

I know that tossing lines down the companionway is not ideal but (as in the movie) the lesser of two weevils...
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Vega1447 said:
Karouise said:
Yebbut.

I'd rather slip on a line below deck than in the cockpit.

I know that tossing lines down the companionway is not ideal but (as in the movie) the lesser of two weevils...
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When I do that, the b*****s somehow contrive to wrap themselves round one or more of the battery switches under the companionway bottom step...... So now I don't.
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