Notes on a Reefable jib

[Foolish Muse]

In my singlehanded tips book, I suggested that a reefable jib might be a good sail to own. Two weeks ago I took delivery of my own reefable jib and I wanted to let you all know how thrilled I am with it.
First, the Olson 30 is an ultralight boat, so it is very susceptible to high winds. 25 knots on the nose is a lot of wind with this boat, usually requiring a double reef in the main and very difficult to handle and very bouncy, which means slow. I can tell you that the reefable jib made a huge change to my sailing.

Last weekend it was blowing up to 25 apparent as I beat into the wind. This would normally be a very slow and very bouncy trip. But, with one reef in the main and the jib reefed down by about 4' it was actually a pleasurable sail and every bit as fast as with lower winds and greater sail area. The boat was more upright meaning less leeward drift. The centre of gravity was much lower than with a full jib so there was less rocking. My speed stayed at about 6.2 knots and was much more consistent than it would have been with a full jib.

I know that many boats have furling jibs. The problem with those is that the sail shape is lost when partially furled. This means lower speed. But with a reef in the jib, the sail shape is preserved so speed is maintained.

Love my reefable jib and I suggest that all sailors take a look at it. Happy to answer questions.

 

[Cockaigne]

Interesting and useful post. Who made the sail for you?

 

[flaming]

In my singlehanded tips book, I suggested that a reefable jib might be a good sail to own. Two weeks ago I took delivery of my own reefable jib

So in your book you recommend something that you hadn't actually tried....?

What else in your book is not based on actual experience?

Otherwise.... I've sailed with reefeable jibs. Can be ok, especially if you have the choice of raising the tack or dropping the halyard. This is because on a windy reach if you can reef the jib and raise the tack and clew you can help prevent the sail from scooping water. Whereas in flat water but strong winds upwind you'd prefer to have the COE lower.

But still a compromise compared to having another, smaller, jib. My own experience is that advances in sailcloth are meaning that fewer sails are needed to cover the full range of wind speeds than before, due to the amount that they can be flattened. Most racing boats around here now generally have a full size light jib, a full size heavy jib and a "number 4". And that covers winds from 0-30 kts and more.

So if you were going to have a reefable jib, which one are you going to reef?

 

[flaming]

To add... Where I've sailed with them before it has been in classes that limit the number of sails that you can carry. So for example mini transats make good use of being able to reef the jib, and the old Sigma 33s did as well. Not sure the Sigmas still bother though, for sailcloth improvement reasons as mentioned, but prepared to be corrected on that one, haven't sailed one in quite a while.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

Our reefable jib had a new tack and clew about 4 ft up from the foot, with associated reefing points.

But it also had a line of these reefing points between the upper clew and the original jib tack. This meant by attaching a sheet to the upper clew, it quickly became a high cut yankee without altering the halyard. Not only was the reduction in area handy at times, but the sail then pulled much better when cracked off a little (less twist) and cleared green water better.

 

[flaming]

Not only was the reduction in area handy at times, but the sail then pulled much better when cracked off a little (less twist) and cleared green water better.

These days that is generally covered by a Jib Top or "Blast Reacher" In some ways this is often easier to handle than a reefable jib, as they are now often set flying on "code zero" style furlers. I can't find it now, but somewhere there is an excellent report from a sunfast 3600 in this year's solo RTI describing using a Jib Top on a furler to good effect.

What FM is describing is fair enough, but in my view it's outdated thinking.

 

[bbg]

To add... Where I've sailed with them before it has been in classes that limit the number of sails that you can carry. So for example mini transats make good use of being able to reef the jib, and the old Sigma 33s did as well. Not sure the Sigmas still bother though, for sailcloth improvement reasons as mentioned, but prepared to be corrected on that one, haven't sailed one in quite a while.

Yes, where sail numbers are limited, a reefable jib can be very useful.

Also when sailing shorthanded, because it is much easier to reef a jib than to change it.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

Yes, we had a Hood blast reacher on the IOR boat in the 70s, before the advent of asymmetricals, which we used if the reach was too shy for the star-cut spinnaker. It was our 'secret weapon' for crossing the NE trades in the South China Sea Race.

But the reefable headsail as I described does still have an application today. Lots of people have a removable forestay just inboard of their roller. Most of these get very little use because their dedicated hank on sail is usually too small to offer a seamless transition from three rolls in the genoa. But a full size 'No 3' on this stay is a powerful upwind sail and the ability to 'reef' it down to a working jib / heavy weather jib size without another foredeck sail change stops you feeling nervous about the wind continuing to build and you having to do another hank on to hank on headsail change.

We're not talking about those who can afford mulitple headsails on free flying furlers, but the myriad of cruisers who could benefit by getting something more seamanship like from their prosaic genoa on simple roller type average boat set-up.

 

[Kukri]

On a gaff cutter (yes, I do know this is the racing section) you routinely change jibs, but reef the staysail. As the wind builds you drop the main, drop the last jib and set the (reefed, case need) trysail.

You can perfectly well do the same on a bermudian rugged cutter.

 

[flaming]

Also when sailing shorthanded, because it is much easier to reef a jib than to change it.

That's a fair point.

 

[flaming]

But the reefable headsail as I described does still have an application today. Lots of people have a removable forestay just inboard of their roller. Most of these get very little use because their dedicated hank on sail is usually too small to offer a seamless transition from three rolls in the genoa. But a full size 'No 3' on this stay is a powerful upwind sail and the ability to 'reef' it down to a working jib / heavy weather jib size without another foredeck sail change stops you feeling nervous about the wind continuing to build and you having to do another hank on to hank on headsail change.

We're not talking about those who can afford mulitple headsails on free flying furlers, but the myriad of cruisers who could benefit by getting something more seamanship like from their prosaic genoa on simple roller type average boat set-up.

In my defence this was posted in the racing section, so I was thinking more about racing requirements than cruising! I do accept that for short handed sailing a reefable jib is easier than changing a jib, but I do stand by the point that with advances in sailcloth this has become less necessary. And the free flying code type sails are better suited to high wind reaching than a reefed jib.
As an example for of the ability to depower, whilst we are predominately an inshore boat, 2 years ago the owner bought a number 4 jib as we were going to do a bit of offshore stuff. We put it up to check it fitted and set well, then put it in the bag and it hasn't been up since. And we've raced in winds up to 30kts quite happily. Different story offshore, but the ability to depower the boat has changed out of all recognition in the 10 years I've been sailing it.

I have however also sailed my last race on that boat... There's a replacement sat in the yard having a bit of work done, and that comes with everything... Symmetrical kites, A-sails, Code Zero, Jib Top, Spinnaker staysail.... You name it. So we've got a bunch of experimenting to do, which I'm sure will be enlightening...

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

I have however also sailed my last race on that boat... There's a replacement sat in the yard having a bit of work done, and that comes with everything... Symmetrical kites, A-sails, Code Zero, Jib Top, Spinnaker staysail.... You name it. So we've got a bunch of experimenting to do, which I'm sure will be enlightening...

You can't just leave it there....

 

[flaming]

You can't just leave it there....

Ah but I will.... For now.....

 

[Foolish Muse]

So in your book you recommend something that you hadn't actually tried....? What else in your book is not based on actual experience?

Lots of stuff in my book is based on interviews and discussions with other singlehanders. For example I've never rolled a boat at Cape Horn or been rescued for a medical emergency near Hawaii, but I thought it was valuable to include these for learning sake.

Regarding the reefed jib. Keep in mind that I'm only talking about beating into the wind here. I don't think I'd do this on a reach or a run unless the winds became extreme. You must remember that, BY FAR, the biggest handicap that a singlehander has over a crewed boat is leeway drift due to extra heel of the boat. So few people race singlehanded against crewed boats that most never recognize the problem. I race against a crewed Olson 30 and, in a 15 knot wind, I'll lose 100 yards to leeward for every 1/2 mile of forward progress. What I've found over many years is that flattening the foot and twisting off the head of a sail to depower is valuable at times. But it does not reduce the overall sail area and it does not reduce boat heel and leeward drift.

In addition, when the wind gets up I find that the ultralight Olson 30 starts to bounce around (much more than a heavier boat like the Figaro 2 or even more than an Olson 30 with 1,200lbs of crew on the rail). This in itself is very slow, probably cutting 2 knots off of speed. I'm always dropping down to 4 and then need to build back up to 6, and then another bounce and back to 4 again. I found that with the reefed jib, I didn't bounce nearly as much and my speed stayed between 6 and 6.2 much more consistently. The boat was much easier to steer, without the dips into heavy weather helm. A much faster, and more pleasant sail overall.

Regarding having a smaller sail. I had my new jib made with the reef so it is well made and the shape of the upper 2/3 of the sail remains perfect. I don't think there would be any speed benefit to having a smaller #4, and yes changing sails is slow.

 

[dunedin]

I know that many boats have furling jibs. The problem with those is that the sail shape is lost when partially furled. This means lower speed. But with a reef in the jib, the sail shape is preserved so speed is maintained. .

Have you actually sailed with a modern quality furling jib, made from a cruising laminate and with a proper foam luff? Our North jib sets well even when reefed.
Sounds like you perhaps have found an old solution for an old problem, when there are simpler solutions available now.
But each to their own and that is fine

 

[Foolish Muse]

But each to their own and that is fine

Absolutely. A reefable jib is something you rarely see, and I just wanted to point out my impressions and offer it as an alternative - particularly for singlehanders. Because I am a racer, I can end up sailing in winds from 3 knots to 30 knots. My next sail will be a reefable genoa, so in effect I'll have a #1, #2, #3 and #4 and be able to sail very efficiently in a very wide range of wind with just two sails.

 

[bbg]

Absolutely. A reefable jib is something you rarely see, and I just wanted to point out my impressions and offer it as an alternative - particularly for singlehanders. Because I am a racer, I can end up sailing in winds from 3 knots to 30 knots. My next sail will be a reefable genoa, so in effect I'll have a #1, #2, #3 and #4 and be able to sail very efficiently in a very wide range of wind with just two sails.

If I were cruising I'd go for a furling genoa. If shorthanded racing, a reefable genoa.

 

[flaming]

Absolutely. A reefable jib is something you rarely see, and I just wanted to point out my impressions and offer it as an alternative - particularly for singlehanders. Because I am a racer, I can end up sailing in winds from 3 knots to 30 knots. My next sail will be a reefable genoa, so in effect I'll have a #1, #2, #3 and #4 and be able to sail very efficiently in a very wide range of wind with just two sails.

Does your boat have an overlapping genoa or a non overlapping jib?

 

[lw395]

Interesting thread.
I haven't seen a reefing jib since about 1998, that was a reefable No2 IIRC which we used as a 'delivery sail'.
I.e. to keep the riff-raff (inc me) away from the shiny sails when the owner wasn't aboard.
It worked pretty well, reefing the clew up let the heavy spray go under it, and you could see all round from the helm. I think that upwind, reefing it was as much to do with balance as sail area, with a reef in the main?
Off the wind, unreef for more power.
There is some small irony in slab reefing jibs being 'old hat' compared to rollers, but the reverse being the case with mains.
I think the idea has some merits for short handed use on a boat with no roller furler.
Fully staffed, change the sail instead, put the wear on smaller, heavier sail?

 

[Foolish Muse]

Does your boat have an overlapping genoa or a non overlapping jib?

Both. A masthead rig. For my next sail I'd like to get a reefable genoa.

upwind, reefing it was as much to do with balance as sail area, with a reef in the main

Absolutely, with the reefed jib I found the sail balance to be much better in 25 knots. Weather helm was normal compared to the thrusts that would have occurred if I had the full jib up.