Blustery weather

[Wansworth]

What a great descriptive word,here in Galicia the Oak trees are wafting about in the strong breeze,I should imagine if Ihad a Smack it would have a reef or maybe two going by the Beaufort scale but these days it seems modern yachts don’t seem to worry,probably if Ihad a yacht I t would have a good reef in the main and half the genny rolled away

 

[Daydream believer]

I have never had the experience of sailing one; but It would not surprise me if a working smack might be inclined to reef later than some AWBs. Especially if heading to their place of work. Modern AWBs with wide beam for stability seem to prefer not to sail well with decks awash. The ease with which they can reef does allow a sailor to do so fairly early on in a rising wind. Some on this forum have suggested reefing 30 ft boats from 12kts & up. Seems about the level that I might think about turning the engine off. Never mind reefing. But to each his own.

 

[johnalison]

I think that a working smack might do without its tops'l today. I've never sailed one but I imagine the next stage would be to do without the jib.