Single-handed reefing

Not sure I agree with either having all lines at the mast or all at the cockpit. As Pete says there are good reasons to be able to hoist the main while hand steering.

I can also reach the boom tied pennants for both reefs from the cockpit. But I do have to go to the mast to put the cringle on the horn.

I don't find it a problem having the main halyard in the cockpit because I tension the topping lift (from the cockpit) and then release the main halyard (cockpit), then go to the mast (cringle / Horn), return to the cockpit, pull the pennant and tension the main halyard.

I am considering moving to single line reefing but I do think that puts a lot of strain on the coach roof and is a lot of lines led back into what is in our case a quite small cockpit and could be a trip hazard.

Perhaps I am missing something?

I am intending to buy a new No1 Jib (hanked on) and am considering having reefing points put in that so that I don’t need to change the sail to reduce area. Does anyone still reef Jibs these days or has that gone out completely?
 
trapezeartist said:
To avoid hijacking Boo2's thread, can I ask a related question?

My reefing is done with a reefing pennant and rams horn, but the problem I have is the cringle falling off the rams horn before I get back to the cockpit to tighten the halyard. What solutions do people have for this?
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I simply brought a junk rigged boat. Putting a reef in, or taking one out can easily be done with one hand :)
 
PhillM said:
Not sure I agree with either having all lines at the mast or all at the cockpit. As Pete says there are good reasons to be able to hoist the main while hand steering.
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Assuming a singlehanded situation, there are also some good reasons not to be hand steering when hoisting the main. ;)

Different ships, different long splices, as the saying goes.

In our boat we are in autopilot or the Aries gear more than 90% of the time. All three reefs are permanently rigged and the main halyard, topping lift, boom vang tackle, lazyjacks, outhaul, winches etc can be reached from one position on the starboard side at the mast. If the boat is on the starboard tack this is a very comfortable place to be. If the boat is well heeled on the port tack, we go about before reefing. There is minimum clutter and never any need to commute between the mast and the cockpit.

Our boat is a Rustler 36. It was not designed to have everything led back to the cockpit, but that has become the standard (and fashionable) arrangement. There is hardly enough space either side of the companionway to swing a winch handle and all those clutches leave little room for the essential stuff, (cameras, sunglasses, hats, food, drink) that occupies the space on our boat.

At the mast we are mostly seated, clipped on with a short tether, inside a kind of cage formed by the shrouds and only need some granny bars to make it perfect.

In suitable weather we also like "leaving the safety of the cockpit" to sit on the coachroof, watching the wind vane do its job and sitting in the shade of the mainsail, whilst possibly having a cold beer or two.
 
Ok, sistershipr36, retrofitted 5 a side and cleats after taking a good look at those who are 'factory set-up'..

Did one season 'at the mast'

And I ran everything thru the existing mast jammers, feeds and hooks and retained the big 2sp winch there..
Have to say I am delighted but prefer to 'do' the chute from the mast, taking the sheet/guy back forward once looped a couple of times round their cockpit winches.. Def still learning on that one but the cruising chute I hoist in a heartbeat..
And love to loiter in or wander the decks at sea, if only to tweak and inspect( and sit in the sun:))
I did run up some halliard bags double deep compartmented ( handy backrests) and use a shorter winch handle .
The winches themselves are brilliant handholds curiously, ESP stepping in and out without disturbing the washboards:) but I did redo the companionway to create a 100mm wide step/seat and sides/backrests as its such a great place to sit at sea when taking a looksee in carp weather. There was a recent thread in here though where the concensus was that only owners and winkers sit in the companionway..:D
Sorry, but long winded drift from the OP

Btw I use Spinlock XAS and XTS no sign of creep..yet:D
 
sam_uk said:
I simply brought a junk rigged boat. Putting a reef in, or taking one out can easily be done with one hand :)
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This has to be experienced to really be appreciated. Just half a second to drop to any reef - hard to imagine. No complicated and expensive gear to go wrong neither. The new generation of junk sails are fast on the wind - beats comparable boats in the RTI and are beautiful to behold.
 
onesea said:
You mentioned the fender cleat
850316.jpg


Or a Clamcleat Fender/Large Loop Cleat this has to be one of the best bits of kit I bought.

I have it tied off securely to the mast at the kicker fitting and held up to keep it off deck and to hand by some string (keep meaning to change to bungy). The boat was set up for racing when I bought her so all the halyards come out of the mast well above deck level so they can be "pumped" up by the mast man...

The problem is when single handed I have no one to "tail" so I am both :eek:.
So if I pull anything up I can use the fender cleat to hold it there temporarily. :D


OK my procedure:
  1. Slack main so it is flapping and set tiller so that boat conitues sailing on headsail alone (I find this easier than hove too I think boat might move more but is steadier, maybe I have spent to long racing where you do not get a choice :eek:).
  2. Drop main down so its "just" lower than stag horn (I should mark the halyard :rolleyes:),
  3. Up to mast hook on, grab hold of halyard pull up by hand till taught use fender cleat to hold halyard till I can get back and tighten up on winch.
  4. Tighten reefing line.

I would much rather do steps 2-4 at mast but hey ho its the boat I bought :o.

I also use fender cleat when I hoist the main at mast and same with head sail, that way I only need to finish off with the winch aft much less friction. Some people fit jammers on the mast (as I was going to), although I am now a convert to this system.
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NOW I understand the idea of the fender cleat! I like that idea. I'll have to do that as soon as possible. Of course I should also mark my halyards; I've always put it off because I'm not convinced it will be accurate enough.
 
PhillM said:
Perhaps I am missing something?

I am intending to buy a new No1 Jib (hanked on) and am considering having reefing points put in that so that I don’t need to change the sail to reduce area. Does anyone still reef Jibs these days or has that gone out completely?
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I had a jib with reefing points some time back. I never did manage to get it satisfactorily working while reefed. I think the great flap of unused sail being dragged across the foredeck of most concern.
I find it reasonably easy to choose a correct jib for short handed pleasure sailing and no real problem to change a jib when racing. Hank on forever.... olewill
 
JayBee said:
Totally agree.

If an untruth is repeated often enough, eventually people begin to believe it.

Leaving the cockpit to go to the mast is NOT an automatic death sentence.

Going to the foredeck is another matter.
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No but it is clearly much safer if you can reef from the cockpit. The worst solution in my opinion is a system that is half and half.

My last boat allowed me to reef from the cockpit and was excellent if hard work as I reefed early and could shake out early too because there was never any danger.

I know I have carried more main than I should have done in the past because I had to go up to mast to reef. I survived but I would have been better if I had put the second reef in, but it was pretty rough and Mrs Maxi was hors de combat below and it was at night.

Being able to work sails safely does improve you personal safety and I would suggest those who promote reefing at the mast as the ideal are perhaps wrong
 
maxi77 said:
Being able to work sails safely does improve you personal safety and I would suggest those who promote reefing at the mast as the ideal are perhaps wrong
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Not going to argue with you that it maybe safer.

The fact is though the boat I have was not designed for single line reefing, it would be costly for me to fit.

Simple logistics say that there will be less friction in the system if the reefing is at the mast and there will be less equipment making it simpler. That is something I appreciate.

Even if I wanted to pay for the modifications at the mast or single line I think it would "look" wrong, like fitting electric windows to a vintage car...

I like going to the mast, I often sit/ stand on the foredeck. It is not some where I am scared of it is some where I enjoy being.

I do not have a stack pack or lazy jacks (tried lazy jacks they broke I did not replace). I like having to flake the main on the boom, some times with a bit of breeze it can be a challenge.

Then I also have a twin grove tough luff and no roller furling headsail, I will happily change and choose headsails again this can be a challenge. But I enjoy doing it.

Before you say oh but he is a racey type, we entered 1 race last year and before that I had not raced on any boat for 5 years.

I do not go sailing to be wrapped in a bubble, I go sailing to enjoy the sail and the challenges that it can provide.

Please do not go telling others that they are wrong, just because they do not doing things the way you see as best.

To some people all ropes lead aft is important, TBH unless its done very well allot of the time I think it looks as ugly as sin and cab a a PITA.
 
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onesea said:
I like going to the mast, I often sit/ stand on the foredeck. It is not some where I am scared of it is some where I enjoy being.
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Quite.

When my younger brother and I were kids, we used to spend most of our time on our grandad's boat sitting on the foredeck, legs either side of the anchor. Slightly older, we'd stand by the mast, leaning against it or a shroud.

These days I often sit with my back against the mast to read a book.

Pete
 
There is no one right answer.

My own boat is 26 ft with almost non existent side decks.
Getting to the mast let alone the foredeck in high wind and wave conditions carries the distinct risk of MOB. Having lines to cockpit makes damn good sense.
OTH i often crew on a 33 ft boat where working at the mast in the same conditions is relatively safe and secure. for this boat lines to cockpit are unnecessary.
In the end like many things with yachts you have to make the best call for your situation.
Cheers
 
JimC said:
Can you tell us more please? or give links to websites where these can be seen?
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Of course - try the junk rig association website and the yahoo junk rig site. Being able to reef singlehanded with so much ease opens up a whole new world of sailing - you can really sail at last (in very close quarters)without being so reliant on the engine. Just imagine being able to roar into a confined waters - fully under control, under full sail - knowing you can rid yourself of it, or part of it, in a second. What control! Bliss!!
 
trapezeartist said:
To avoid hijacking Boo2's thread, can I ask a related question?

My reefing is done with a reefing pennant and rams horn, but the problem I have is the cringle falling off the rams horn before I get back to the cockpit to tighten the halyard. What solutions do people have for this? Someone mentioned spectacles on the rams horn (conjures up a pretty wacky image) and someone else mentioned a "fender cleat", whatever that is. I have wondered about a short piece of light line (6mm) with a bowline in one end. Put the bowline on the rams horn after the cringle then lead the line the long way round the mast and tie off on the spinny pole ring.
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+1 for a short length of bungee. Mine is attached about 12" above the ramshorn with a plastic hook on the end to clip into the cringle and hold it up onto the ramshorn. Best little mod I ever did as it's positive and never fails. Time spent at the mast while reefing is now only a few seconds. I fitted one either side of the mast so 1st and 2nd reefs are taken care of.
Makes single handed reefing much safer for someone of my advancing years.

When I bought my new mainsail I got it with "spectacles" fitted which makes the job even easier.
 
rob2 said:
I remember in the PBO sketchbook the suggestion of putting a tie-wrap across the ram's horn opening to act as a gate. Just requires a little experimenting with the exact podsition (sets the angle) length and strength and it should work well.

There is no point taking halyards aft if you are using ram's horns! It really only works with single line reefing or a full crew.

Rob.
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+1; I use 2 or 3 tiewraps on each horn - works fine.
 
prv said:
Quite.

When my younger brother and I were kids, we used to spend most of our time on our grandad's boat sitting on the foredeck, legs either side of the anchor. Slightly older, we'd stand by the mast, leaning against it or a shroud.

These days I often sit with my back against the mast to read a book.

Pete
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But perhaps not in conditions where reefing has become needed, I enjoy that too especially on a warm sunny day with light winds
 
Out of interest, if you have all reefing lines led back to the cockpit and when pulling in the first reef, do you pull the tack lines for all 2/3 reefs at the same time or do you pull reef 1 then take the slack out of 2 (and 3)? Ditto for the leech lines?
My reefing is all at the mast so, when hauling the leech lines, I pull both together by hand until I need to harden up just reef 1's leech line.
 
alahol2 said:
Out of interest, if you have all reefing lines led back to the cockpit and when pulling in the first reef, do you pull the tack lines for all 2/3 reefs at the same time or do you pull reef 1 then take the slack out of 2 (and 3)? Ditto for the leech lines?
My reefing is all at the mast so, when hauling the leech lines, I pull both together by hand until I need to harden up just reef 1's leech line.
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I don't think it matters much, though sometimes a loop of the second clew reef line will flail in the wind and get a bit twisted, which needs a bit of yanking to bring it in. With two of us, I ease the halyard from my helm position while my crew (=wife) pulls in the single line before winching it tight. If I have a chance, I pull in the second line from time to time.
 
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