Making in mast reefing simpler?

Nostrodamus said:
Tomahawk,
You are spending far too much time on this forum rather than being on the Tescos site ordering various barrels of beer with which to provision your boat. (Even amounts for each hull to balance it out)
I also hope your keyboard is blue with anti foul which you no doubt have everywhere.
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That has just cost you a jar of salad cream!!!
 
Frankie-H said:
It may, or more probably may not, interest the readership to know that I was sailing 40 and 50 years ago. At that time of course, I did not have roller reefing on main or genny but I carried 8 sails on a 30ft boat.

I have now had my Moody 42 for 17 years and have roller reefing on both main and genny. I have reached a stage in life, when I no longer wish to be rolling around the foredeck fighting with a homicidal gennoa, just because I have left reefing a little late.

Yes I used to race and I used to be fascinated in getting the perfect shape to my sails. I now find that my ols Moody, at about 15 tons, dosn't mind too much. I have had my side rails under, about twice I think but I have done about 10,000 miles and I do not feel that I am either stupid or that I need to be told how to sail.

I might have a little knowledge, which can be passed on to those who are interested. If they are not then fine. They can laugh at me and or ignore me. Neither of which will alter my life one iota.

I have never marked my reefing gear in any way. If the boat wants less sail, then I take a little more in. If she is not pressed, then I give her a little more sail. I look at the sails and I feel the wind. This, to me, is more important than marks to tell me - what exactly?

Perhaps my reefing gear is due to jam soon. After all these years and miles, perhaps over due. I really don't know. I have never seen any likelihood of it and, at the end of the day, I have known slides jam on tracks and if I am in extremis, I could always put a knife through ther sail. Lives are much more valuable than sails.

I am reminded of a long poem from the sailing club's comment book, over 55 years ago. I can not remember it all but it finished up talking about those venerable members ..... '...whose sailing is done o'er cups of tea, upon the club house balconee'.
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VERY well put. For what it is worth, my furling main has corresponding 'dots' on it to the genny.

Anyway Mark, I thought you were more worried about your oil!!!
 
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I used to have a very quick 44 footer with fully battered main. I still have a very quick 44 footer with roller reefing .
What I did was have a boom .500 longer and a mast 1.5 meters taller. hull speed in 16 knots of wind with unlimited adjustment of the sail .
I would never go back to slab reefing over 900sq ft of main again.
 
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Tranona said:
Given that, I always wonder why you bother to try and contribute anything to threads on this subject.

Nostrodamus was asking for ideas to get better use out of his system - which logically would come from people who have experience, not from those that don't, nor from people whose only contribution is to suggest he changes it for a different system!
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Its the future as sail technology improves, slab reefing will fade away, as hank on head sails have.
 
rtboss1 said:
Its the future as sail technology improves, slab reefing will fade away, as hank on head sails have.
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Let's just say I strongly disagree ! :)

As for hanked sails, my chum has recently thrown a way his rotostay and gone for hanked sails; he is a pro' engineer first, sailor a distant second, but he couldn't put up with the risk of the roller failing just when he needed it.

He has a dodgy hip after an accident but still prefers separate sails with their reliability and better performance.

This is on a reasonably high performance 7/8ths rig 22' boat; the headsails are easily manageable.

I would say after a dalliance with roller headsails boats around this size are going back to hanks or foils, I have seen a lot more lately.

When I had a performance masthead rigged 30' boat the headsails were heavy and a pain to change; on that boat a good quality roller headsail would have been welcome for cruising, but for racing I'd go for a foil.

There is also the point that if out in really severe winds, one has to get the genoa off the roller which is no picnic !

Anyone interested in performance and reliability will stick to slab reefing, which is no bother at all if the boat and kit are set up correctly.
 
cmedsailor said:
I doubt many would prefer in really severe winds to actually go at the bow and drop the sail.
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cmedsailor,

my point exactly !

It might not be preferable but in really severe conditions one has to get rid of the windage of a rolled headsail.

Far better to be on separate headsails to begin with, or on larger boats get the genoa off in good time and set the separate storm jib.
 
Seajet said:
cmedsailor,

my point exactly !

It might not be preferable but in really severe conditions one has to get rid of the windage of a rolled headsail.

Far better to be on separate headsails to begin with, or on larger boats get the genoa off in good time and set the separate storm jib.
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Better still, have arrived before the conditions deteriorate to dangerous.

I don't particularly like roller reefing mains, don't intend to buy it myself, but when I see roller mains being used while slab reef cruising boats are motoring (because it's not worth hoisting for a 2 hour passage?), I accept it's the right thing for some people, and I know which boat I'd rather be on.
 
lw395 said:
Better still, have arrived before the conditions deteriorate to dangerous.

I don't particularly like roller reefing mains, don't intend to buy it myself, but when I see roller mains being used while slab reef cruising boats are motoring (because it's not worth hoisting for a 2 hour passage?), I accept it's the right thing for some people, and I know which boat I'd rather be on.
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Agreed. One can argue the ins and outs of either systems for hours, but one thing I do notice a lot is that boats with inmast reefing get sailed more, just because it is so easy to pop out the sail.

At the end of the day, the best choice is the one that suits you, not what suits somebody else.
 
Seajet said:
cmedsailor,

my point exactly !

It might not be preferable but in really severe conditions one has to get rid of the windage of a rolled headsail.

Far better to be on separate headsails to begin with, or on larger boats get the genoa off in good time and set the separate storm jib.
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How do all the Open 60's and the like cope in the Southern Oceans with sometimes 2 furling head sails....?

Very well, otherwise the wouldn't have them.

Once again more opinion than fact.......

Just because you disagree with it doesn't make it wrong.

FWIW I had a FW recommend but too tall to fit in the slow jet. :p
 
"in-mast is not the choice of serious sailors"
Let's all be sure and tell the hundreds of passage making sailors out there with roller furling mains that they are not serious sailors! Of course we'll have to wait till there boats come in :cool:
 
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