in mast reefing.- is it a problem

[Tranona]

Wash your mouth out for doubting the word of the master. I have to agree with you that ownership of a furling main would not cancel it's disadvantages no matter how well you liked it.
The shortcomings and advantages of in mast reefing systems are well known and few sailors with an interest in quick sailing would touch them with a barge pole - unless they had some special requirement.

Cruising with a larger boat, perhaps in old age, is another matter. As you say, it is a matter of preference a idea that some find very tricky to grasp.

.

As ever your "well known" shortcomings are mostly a load of bunkum. As for the "few" sailors who have an interest in quick sailing (whatever that means) who are they? Do they include all the people who are lucky enough to be able to buy a serious boat like an HR. Suggest you look at their latest boats and listen to the designers and builders views on the subject. Never mind all the Oysters that have in mast or in some cases in boom? Are they not interested in "quick sailing"?

The good Father owned a Vancouver 34 and is a confessed luddite so I guess he would not be in that category, but as he has no experience of either sailing never mind owning a boat with in mast I am not sure he is in a position to say anything on the subject. If you actually read that exchange it was nothing to do with performance but about the claim that slab reefing was simple and by implication was foolproof which in my view - and as I explained is not supportable, Indeed he agrees, qualifying his claim by saying you need to have the right bits of gear to solve the fundamental problems associated with the system.

What can one draw from this? There are some luddites who are wedded to their belief that slab reefing is better for cruising and to support this only offer their professed satisfaction without having any experience of alternatives. It doe make rational debate difficult when people are unwilling to accept that they may not be right.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

As ever your "well known" shortcomings are mostly a load of bunkum. As for the "few" sailors who have an interest in quick sailing (whatever that means) who are they? Do they include all the people who are lucky enough to be able to buy a serious boat like an HR. Suggest you look at their latest boats and listen to the designers and builders views on the subject. Never mind all the Oysters that have in mast or in some cases in boom? Are they not interested in "quick sailing"?

The good Father owned a Vancouver 34 and is a confessed luddite so I guess he would not be in that category, but as he has no experience of either sailing never mind owning a boat with in mast I am not sure he is in a position to say anything on the subject. Like most other detractors he just trots out old chestnuts that are refuted by all those who do have experience and post here to share it.

Quiet the contrary all I say whilst admitting that I have never been on a yacht with in mast reefing I point out that slab reefing is a perfectly acceptable method tried and tested over many years by many sailors in many conditions with many ways to make it better or alleviate problems of age. Surprisingly you can buy a HR or an Oyster or whatever boat you want with slab reefing.

 

[doug748]

As ever your "well known" shortcomings are mostly a load of bunkum. As for the "few" sailors who have an interest in quick sailing (whatever that means) who are they? .......

They are the people that ask simple questions like:

' Will this item help me to sail more quickly - or will it hamper the boats stability, increase it's centre of gravity reduce it's sail area, spoil it's sail shape and throw in a chance of trapping my fingers whilst hammering my bank balance '

Not that I am against convenience, I take it you have the system fitted, first thing you bought?

.