Reefing main or Genoa.

[Deleted member 36384]

Reefing jibs is performed by transferring the windward sheet to the new clew, while the sail is still set. Where the boat is rigged for this there may be a double turning block that can be used, or if not then a snatch block can rigged up, I have also doubled up the sheet in a single turning block as there is sufficient space. The tack was usually managed by easing the sheet to depower the jib, lowering the sail the appropriate distance and then quickly transferring the tack tackle from the original position to the new tack, halyard tensioned and the new sheet set. As jibs were likely to be hanked on, there was little risk of losing control of the sail. I have done this with a foil luff groove and it is just as straight forward, a bit more fiddly with using a snap shackle at the tack. Rolling up the foot is done with the reefed sail set. Last job was taking the old leeward sheet and reeving as the windward sheet. It is very undramatic and there is no risk of flogging sails battering the crew on the foredeck, and it is a simple process to perform, much easier than changing from a No 2 to No 3 Genoa with a foil groove, then handing the old sail and bagging it.

However, for convenience, roller reefing is king and two furling systems with the inner having a smaller sail is the ultimate in convenience.

 

[Stemar]

However, for convenience, roller reefing is king and two furling systems with the inner having a smaller sail is the ultimate in convenience.

That strikes me as far and away the best setup for anything but a full-on racing boat with plenty of crew.

 

[dunedin]

However, for convenience, roller reefing is king and two furling systems with the inner having a smaller sail is the ultimate in convenience.

Agree this can be a great solution - provided the boat is designed for this.

However often needs a lot of reinforcement under the deck for the second stay, and potentially running back stays as the inner jib tends to be used in the worst conditions.
Plus on another thread some (or perhaps one) are concerned about the weight of a solar arch just 3m up. If a boat was designed for one furling genoa and a conventional mainsail, adding a second furling foil / sail / fittings etc will certainly change the stability curve for the worse (even more so if also added furling main since left designer’s calculator).

PS. And as noted way back up the thread, second permanent furler rarely needed for a modern boat with narrow 105% jib, which needs less reefing and with laminate sail and foam luff keeps shape much better than old genoas. Instead a Code Zero on a rope furler has all the benefits of a big sail when wanted - with no weight aloft in bad weather and no inner stay to inhibit tacking or stowing a dinghy on deck.

 

[geem]

Agree this can be a great solution - provided the boat is designed for this.

However often needs a lot of reinforcement under the deck for the second stay, and potentially running back stays as the inner jib tends to be used in the worst conditions.
Plus on another thread some (or perhaps one) are concerned about the weight of a solar arch just 3m up. If a boat was designed for one furling genoa and a conventional mainsail, adding a second furling foil / sail / fittings etc will certainly change the stability curve for the worse (even more so if also added furling main since left designer’s calculator).

PS. And as noted way back up the thread, second permanent furler rarely needed for a modern boat with narrow 105% jib, which needs less reefing and with laminate sail and foam luff keeps shape much better than old genoas. Instead a Code Zero on a rope furler has all the benefits of a big sail when wanted - with no weight aloft in bad weather and no inner stay to inhibit tacking or stowing a dinghy on deck.

We have a second furler set up as a Solent rig. The load was taken down to the hull through the deck by a large bottle screw. A pad was glassed in to the vee of the hull. I wanted the inner furler parallel to the main furler so we have an attachment point 2m lower than the main furler at the top of the mast. We have dyneema runners.
The performance advantage going to windward is very noticeable compared to a furled genoa.
An advantage for us with this set up is the ability to run twin headsails downwind on twin poles. Both fully independent and easily adjusted. We have no concern with regard to righting moment. We started with 41% ballast ratio. We have done many thousands of offshore sailing miles with this set up. It's a great set up for us