in mast reefing.- is it a problem

[Frogmogman]

I have recently cleaned my mast track, jammer and lubricated with McLube Sailkote. My mainsail, full battens, is around 35.5 m² (41’ LOA masthead rig). Raising it by hand had become difficult, but now is significantly easier. If I open the jammer on the main halyard, it is even easier. My arm strength and fitness has dropped significantly over the last few years as well. It is now being reported that leg and arm strength training, using calisthenics, or weights, rather than cardiovascular training is vital for old age fitness. Obviously this helps with mainsail hoisting. I think, as we age, if we engage in regular strength training, stuff like sail handling is easily manageable without electric winches.

I agree with your point though, that the convenience of in mast mainsail reefing is very convenient for leisure sailing, especially when one gets older.

+ 1 for the McLube Sailcote. What a great product; a real help in eliminating friction, the bane of the sailor’s existence

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I suppose that I would be regarded as a Ludite in saying that were I still sailing I would prefer slab single line reefing lead back to the cockpit with fully battened main and intermediate cars. I have never even been on a boat with in mast reefing so have no knowledge just the old prejudice however I have sailed on a 50 foot long keel boat with in boom reefing which was fine you just had to set the angle of the boom exactly which was done with the topping lift being marked and the vang pulled down. The owner even had a short stick that could be used to place between the sprayhood frame and the bottom of the boom to check the gap. The consequence of not getting it correct was that the sail would migrate towards the mast or back towards the cockpit and eventually jam. Get it right and it was very good.