Rigging a Third Reef

[Rich_F]

What do people normally do about a third reef? My boat (in common with many others) has two reefing lines and an outhaul fed through the boom.

However, my mainsail has three reef points. My solution has been to rig reefs 2 and 3, and not to use the first reef. In practice, this hasn't been much of a problem, as the second reef normally followed pretty quickly on the heels of the first.

Is there an easy alternative that leaves me with all three? What do other people do?

Cheers,

Rich

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[Sybarite]

I rig reefs one and two. If there is a possibility of very strong winds I rig two and three. If unexpected strong winds come I untie reef no 2 and feed it through reef point n° 3. Takes less than a minute.

John

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[jimi]

Have you got single line reefing or do you have a ram's horn on the mast for the reef point on the luff?

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[Rich_F]

Ram's horn. Getting the sail onto it in controlled conditions is a real pain, but when the sail's flogging everywhere and the adrenaline kicks in - no problem!

Rich

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[Evadne]

I do the same. Rig 1 & 2 permanently. If you need 1 before you set off, rig 2 and 3. If you need No. 2 before you set off, question your sanity. If you need No. 3, there is no need to question it.
(That's 2-line reefing)
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<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Dave_White on 02/09/2003 16:34 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Twister_Ken]

Frigging a Third Reef

Bizarre though it may seem, I have three reefs permanently rigged. Can't really countenance frigging about re-reeving lines when conditions warrant reef three. Rather thought everybody did this, assuming they don't have roller blinds.

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[jimi]

Yep, reason I asked is because its a lot easier to rethread a "bull's horn" reefing line than a single line one, I've go the latter and its a real pain, I tend to extend the first line using screwgate Krabs onto the 3rd reefing points, but must of the time its such a pain I just drop the main and sail under headsail alone.

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[Aja]

Re: Frigging a Third Reef

Ken

Do your reefing pennants go inside the boom? If so for a 'small' yacht you're lucke in that it handles 3 pennants.

I suspect that most yachts under 30' will only have space/capability for two pennants.

I've only got two, but will retro-fit a third this winter on the outside of the boom. Doesn't look so nice, but no other option.

Donald

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[Evadne]

Re: Frigging a Third Reef

I've never needed to reef more than twice in one day, and it does reduce the amount of string flapping around the clew of the sail. And I never sail before breakfast and after closing time on the same day, if I can help it. It's bad for morale.

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[claymore]

Motorsailor Mentality
I have reef one rigged - this takes out a big slab and we've been in big seas and the limits of comfort and manageability seem to be around 25 - 30 knots of wind

If its forecasting more than that and we have to go I'll rig it to reef point two before we set off - this flies a hankie of thing and we've never reached the limit.

If its really really windy - I normally get the kettle on and sit in the patio watching all those daft sods frightening the shite out of themselves and breaking things
Hope this helps

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Claymore
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[Twister_Ken]

Re: Frigging a Third Reef

Boom takes four lines. Outhaul, and three reefs. All exit by gooseneck, all tails drop into a canvass bag near base of mast. 'Spectacles' in luff of sail at reef points make hooking onto horn very easy. Generally heave-to to reef if it's blowing hard or the sea is a bit boisterous. Makes life easier.

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[Twister_Ken]

Perish the thougt

Ended up sailing twice after closing time this year (not on my boat). V bad idea. Had to drink beer in cockpit. Not the same.

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[jimi]

Re: Frigging a Third Reef

That's the advantage of single line reefing, you can continue sailing on the headsail whilst reefing, I've considered pernamently rigging the 3rd reef point as I've got room in the boom for it but there's an awfie lot of line associated with a third reef when using single line reefing.

On another note when Claysie talks about taking a slab oot he's oan aboot picking yin oot yon patio o' his an flingin it at onyin whae suggests sailin' in a forecast 11.

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[Evadne]

Re: Perish the thougt

Quite. Your reefing setup sounds quite neat and simple though. I haven't got proper pennants at the luff as such, just tie the clew around the boom at the gooseneck, then haul the boom inboard in order to pull in on the new outhaul at the boom end. Can be quite exciting, especially when conditions warrant No. 3. And it never sets very well.
I've often wondered at such times about the possibility of retro-fitting ramshorns and running the clew lines somewhere more sensible to make life easier, but there always seem to be more important jobs to once ashore.

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[tome]

Re: Frigging a Third Reef

Same here, I rigged the third this season and can't understand why anyone would want to faff about rigging it in a blow. Third reef is deep so the reefing line is long, which can be a pain stowing/raising but on balance I wouldn't want it any other way.

Do you have 'spectacles' rigged (two SS rings joined through the reef cringle with a tape)? These make it much easier to drop over the horn.

I 've marked the halyard with coloured whipping at each of the reef points so that I can lower the main just enough to drop the corresponding spec over the horn. This leaves very little sweating up of the halyard once the reef is in.

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[david42]

I don\'t get it

Both the Bavarias that I've sailed had plaques declaring their compliance with RCD category A, which means they should be capable of crossing oceans, yet the third reef is 'optional' and was not permanently rigged on either of these boats.

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[Twister_Ken]

Re: I don\'t get it

I think RCD Category A means that somewhere in Bruxelles there is a b-eurocrat who believes that said boat is capable of offshore passages. Said functionary lives near a canal, so was given this job because he has more nautical knowledge than anyone else in Department 13.25(b).

My own boat, mercifully built in the days when RCD meant only Rook and Crow Droppings, would never achieve cat A, being too short. That hasn't, of course, stopped folks who don't require a pub at the end of a day's sailing, from crossing oceans in them. Quite big oceans. And not always by the 'until the butter melts' route either.

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[webcraft]

Re: Frigging a Third Reef

Jimi, why can't you reef while sailing on the headsail with ramshorn reefing? I do. Stopping to reef always seems like a waste of good wind.

- Nick


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[tome]

Re: Frigging a Third Reef

I do likewise, but was informed by forum intelligence that this is the racing mans way of doing it, apparently us cruising folk are supposed to heave-to. Tut tut...

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[Twister_Ken]

Re: Frigging a Third Reef

When racing, we used to keep sailing through a reef. But we had someone on the halyard, someone on the kicker, someone on the mainsheet, someone on the reefing pennant, and the ship's boy helping hook on the cringle.

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