Jib reefing.

[mickshep]

Interesting find today, While going through the 12 sail bags that came with my latest boat I have found what appears to be a nearly new large Genoa, Great thinks I, On opening it out I have discovered that it has an extra 2 cringles set into the luff with reef ties leading back to a pair of clew cringles, I have seen similar setups on the staysail of old gaffers. Has anyone experience of a similar system?The plus has to be no longer having to change jibs as the weather closes in, I wonder though, Will this system avoid the problem of roller reefing where the sail becomes fuller as it is reefed? Cheers, Mike.

 

[William_H]

I also received a similar jib wi9th my boat when I bought it 24 years ago. I never did use the jib reefed and it has long since been replaced.
I think by the time you got up to the foredeck and reefed the jib you might as well fit another smaller jib. (cut for the job) So that is what I still do. No roller reefiing for me I just have to be pretty smart re what the wind will do although I do change jibs in a race occasionally. olewill

 

[vyv_cox]

My first boat, many years ago, had one of these. We used it a few times but it was tedious to tie the reef in and hazardous on a wet foredeck. The shape was not great when reefed. I guess that if you set it up beforehand with additional sheets and tack line it might be possible to use it fairly rapidly but with a big sail wardrobe like yours it would probably be better to change foresails.