order of reefing when blowing?

carrswood

carrswood

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Hi all
I have a Pioneer 10 - a typical early 1970's mast head rigged yacht of its day.
She has a relatively small mainsail and a 135% Genoa (in her day came with a 155% Genoa :eek:)

Id like to know what the correct reefing sequence is when it starts to blow?
Instead of strangling the nice Genoa with the furler should I first reef down the main, then to further reduce being overpowered reef the main again to its 2nd reef ? - Therefore keeping the driving sail (Genoa) efficiently driving.

The corect advice for this type of sail plan would be really helpful.
This may help:
DSC04596.jpg
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carrswood said:
Id like to know what the correct reefing sequence is when it starts to blow?
Instead of strangling the nice Genoa with the furler should I first reef down the main, then to further reduce being overpowered reef the main again to its 2nd reef ? - Therefore keeping the driving sail (Genoa) efficiently driving.
Click to expand...
It depends to some extent on the boat. I'd definitely start with the main first. However, too much genoa compared with the main, may induce lee helm which will impact on your ability to head upwind so you'll need to start rolling the genoa before too long. The boat will probably tell you.

Don't forget that you have other controls at your disposal other than reefing. A good tight vang will help reduce the fullness of the main (and hence heeling). Depending on your sheeting arrangements you can also let the traveller drop to leeward to reduce heeling too.
 
carrswood,

with this rig format it's traditional to put 1 reef in the main first, as you say this keeps the power from the Genoa available, particularly the 'slot' where genoa overlaps main, very important.

After that though I'd reduce genoa and main pretty much equally, though keeping an eye on the slot.

The ability to set something like a 'blade' working jib then if it comes to it a storm jib, rather than reefing the genoa to it's eyebrows by which time it may well be setting like a sack just when you need a flat sail, would be invaluable; maybe - if you don't have this already - a temporary baby-stay tensioned to a very strong eye on deck, could be normally stowed at the mast.

In really heavy weather it would pay to get the genoa right off the roller & stowed below, if you can; if given sufficient warning.

This is all based on being able to beat efficiently in strong weather, which I'd think is the main criteria for safety & efficiency.
 
If you were looking only for windward performance, (as in racing) you would change to a No2 headsail around 105% on a rig like yours before reefing the already smallish main, but if the choice is between rolling the headsail and reefing the main then the best thing is to try both. I have never had a sail that I liked part furled and never do it. If you have a foam luff and that big genny is a decent shape with a couple of rolls in it the rig will be better balanced that way but dacron headsails are not improved by being used reefed whereas the main is designed for it. If you are not hard on the wind you can keep the genny full.
But you really need to experiment to get the right answer: with a slightly longer boom than yours I would have no hesitation in recommending reefing the main first but the hull, keel and rudder performance all come in to the equation.
 
Looking again at the OPs sails in the pic. it does not look as if he has a lot to learn about sail setting. They look close to perfect and would impress me.
 
I think it partly depends on what sailing you are doing at the time. If racing, or keen on the best performance, then reefing the main first was usual with boats of this era. However, if you are doing a long broad reach, you might be more comfortable with a smaller jib. I would also be happier with a smaller jib if short-tacking into a river like the Blackwater.
 
Take note of the above, then go out in an offshore blow so the sea is not too rough and try various combinations until you know what both you and the boat are comfortable with. As one teacher said, "an ounce of experience is better than a ton of theory".
 
Quandary said:
Looking again at the OPs sails in the pic. it does not look as if he has a lot to learn about sail setting. They look close to perfect and would impress me.
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Pedant mode. His windward telltales are lifting because he's luffing slightly. :D:D

Nice pic. tho.
 
I have boat with a similar rig. I find that reefing the mainsail with a big Genoa out doesn't achieve anything. I would first reduce the foresail to no more than 100-105%, then maybe the first reef in the main.

I wouldn't need the second reef in the main until I was down to the heavy weather jib up front.
 
bedouin said:
I have boat with a similar rig. I find that reefing the mainsail with a big Genoa out doesn't achieve anything. I would first reduce the foresail to no more than 100-105%, then maybe the first reef in the main.

I wouldn't need the second reef in the main until I was down to the heavy weather jib up front.
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It is CORRECT to get the Genoa in tight FIRST. As you can always ease the Main out (ease off) and then reef in the main. His rig is ideal to perform this task.
 
My old Carter 30; if anything more foresail - biased than the Pioneer, but the drill was still to reduce the main first, then start changing down headsails and reefing the main equally.

th_AvalonoffCherbourg.jpg
 
Have you tried sailing with genoa only? My CO32 is quite neutrally helmed and close winded under No 1 genoa alone so I tend to reef the main to its 2nd reef, or even drop the thing altogether before reducing the headsail. In lazy singlehanded mode going to windward I have been known to double reef the main and then if still too much, roll the genoa (no1 or no2) fully and hoist a No4 on the inner forestay - but then neither has a foam luff and both turn into bags.
 
Not trying to sidetrack the theme, but as a VERY simple rule of thumb for those of us who only have one standard genoa and one main on a 31' Bavaria what would be the order of reefing - just for leisurely cruising?
Thanks
 
cdogg said:
Not trying to sidetrack the theme, but as a VERY simple rule of thumb for those of us who only have one standard genoa and one main on a 31' Bavaria what would be the order of reefing - just for leisurely cruising?
Thanks
Click to expand...

cdogg,

have you got a means of setting at least a storm jib, if not a working jib, separately from the roller ?

Has your Genoa got a foam luff ?
 
Seajet said:
My old Carter 30; if anything more foresail - biased than the Pioneer, but the drill was still to reduce the main first, then start changing down headsails and reefing the main equally.

th_AvalonoffCherbourg.jpg
Click to expand...

as with m/h rigged cruising boats .
the OPs boat is already rigged with a No 2 Genoa ( 130%) so flatten the main & tighten the genny halliard first then dump the main in the gusts reef the main if over powered in the gusts
 
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