numpty reefing observation

[deep denial]

my boat, like other slab reefers, has clew cringles for a 3rd reef. But, again like others, these are not normally rove due to enormous length of lines needed. And of course, I have never needed to use it. But it sometimes occurs to me that if I did need to use it, conditions would be poor to say the least, and not exactly conducive to be feeding lines through a dancing cringle dangling to leeward in heavy seas, with killer boom etc., and then trying to work out how to secure it. What do others do - I suspect they too just hope never to need it.
On similar lines, is it just me or do others not fancy tying down the aftermost reefing ties after having pulled down the second reef? Again in deteriorating conditions crawling towards the end of the boom and reaching around both sides of the sail, and then using both hands to tie the knots seems to be inherently unsafe? This problem never seems to be mentioned in beginner's guides to reefing.

 

[boatmike]

Beginners guide to reefing should start by saying always reef in good time. Don't wait until conditions deteriorate to the point where it becomes dangerous. I also hope you clip yourself on when up there!

 

[deep denial]

sure - I'm not that much of a beginner - but by the time you even think of a third reef things are getting hairy!

 

[[3889]]

I always assumed 3rd reef was absent as the boom fittings were occupied by 2 reef lines, outhaul and flattener. Personally, I have a 3rd reef and forego the flattener.

 

[boatsRus]

I have single line reefing for No 1 and No 2 reefs, and permanently rove lines (separate ones for the tack and clew) for the third reef. Quite a lot of rope, but has never caused any problems. I certainly would not want to be reeving the 3rd reefing lines at a time when I urgently need a 3rd reef.

I don't bother with tying up the sail between the tack and clew when I have a reef or reefs in - the stackpack looks after things nicely.

 

[fireball]

Why put the line through the cringles? We've attached blocks to ours - so I could move the second reefing block up to the 3rd one without needing to re-thread the whole line ... just a simple shackle to move.

 

[boatmike]

Thats fine then but what I have always done is if and when I have pulled down and secured the 2nd reef I have rigged a line to the 3rd as it's not then required to be so long (if you see what I mean). Then if and when you need it it is there.
Now I have "in mast" reefing I don't reef so early as it is so easy to do and I don't have to leave the cockpit.... But I realise that wasn't the question.

 

[MoodySabre]

I have done the dancing on the coach re-rigging the first reefing line into the third cringle - but no more!

There are two options (one courtesy of this forum).

a. If you are starting with a reef in then you could use the outhaul as the third reefing line.

b. Run a length of light cord in a continuous loop between the second and third cringles and leave a good tail on it. Then you can tie the tail to the reefing line and pull it up and through the third cringle and back down again.

Hope that helps /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[KenMcCulloch]

It's common to run a light messenger line in a loop through the 2nd and 3rd reef cringles on the leech. That makes reeving the 3rd reef pennant much less difficult, you just need to be able to reach the boom. When you put a 2nd reef in you might decide there and then to unreeve the 1st reef pennant and reeve the 3rd so that you are ready with the 3rd if required before the wind has risen even further. I would decide to do that if the barometer was still dropping rapidly and/or I was more than an hour or two from shelter and/or I was starting to feel scared.

 

[Ruffles]

[ QUOTE ]
I always assumed 3rd reef was absent as the boom fittings were occupied by 2 reef lines, outhaul and flattener. Personally, I have a 3rd reef and forego the flattener.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's what we do. But then our first reef is really a flattening reef.
We have provision for 3 lines in the (Kemp) boom. I've always wondered how much a replacement 4 line boom would set me back. Must be a common upgrade....

 

[deep denial]

good idea, thanks

 

[asj1]

You are right when a 3rd reef is needed it is not the time to be doing it! Having tried it twice in the last three years and a third time when I should have but didn't want to face the danger, I have a better solution which I am in the process of putting into action ---- order a new sail with only two reefs, but spread further apart, at points 1.4 and 2.7 compared with a traditional points 1, 2, 3. I am sure that the "2nd" reef will be used when I should use it

 

[bobgoode]

Impressed with moodysailors idea on the mouse line permenantly reeved. Will be doing that one pretty quickly and thank you very much

 

[MoodySabre]

Like all good ideas - somebody else's!