Third reef setup

dgadee

dgadee

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My boom allows two reefing lines, and my sail has three reefing points. The usual suggestion to handle a third reef is having a light line between second and third points which can be used to run the first reefing line to the third reef when needed (am I causing confusion yet?). What knot what you use to tie the reefing line to the light line? I can't imagine how this could be set up easily when the conditions get to third reef being required.
 
Probably not of any help whatsoever, our main has only 2 reefs as we asked for that when it was made. The reasoning was that if we need a 3rd reef, we shouldn't be out there. Do you want to remain out there when you need 3 reefs?
 
The clew of the third reef will be about half way along the boom. The first reef pennant will be of no practical use as it will not be able to pull the clew down efficiently unless it is made off to the boom less than a foot aft of the clew position ...... Try finding that when rolling around in 30 knots in pitch dark and covered with the rest of the flapping sail!!

Always have the reefing lines in place on a long passage .... and make sure they work. It's very easy to and an additional reefing line, even if you have to run it outside of the boom, but not in foul weather.
 
The clew of the third reef will be about half way along the boom. The first reef pennant will be of no practical use as it will not be able to pull the clew down efficiently unless it is made off to the boom less than a foot aft of the clew position ...... Try finding that when rolling around in 30 knots in pitch dark and covered with the rest of the flapping sail!!

Always have the reefing lines in place on a long passage .... and make sure they work. It's very easy to add an additional reefing line, even if you have to run it outside of the boom, but not in foul weather.
 
We got a new mainsail and boom last year. 3 reefs, but only have two of them reeved. The boom has an additional sheeve which I could rig up, but I ran out of coachroof space and it would be a huge amount of extra cordage to have flapping about.

We have only used the 3rd reef in anger once. On that occasion, we knew we would need a minimum of 2 reefs, so before casting off had swapped the 1st reef line over to the 3rd reef. I sized the lines with this in mind when we set up the new boom. We were then able to set off under triple-reefed main, and eventually shook that and ocntinued under double reefed.

Another option would have been to use the outhaul on the first reef, thereby still giving the ability to change up or down by two reefs.
 
dgadee said:
My boom allows two reefing lines, and my sail has three reefing points. The usual suggestion to handle a third reef is having a light line between second and third points which can be used to run the first reefing line to the third reef when needed (am I causing confusion yet?). What knot what you use to tie the reefing line to the light line? I can't imagine how this could be set up easily when the conditions get to third reef being required.
Click to expand...

As others say, when you want a third reef you do not want to be fannying around reeving a third reefing line. If you think you are ever likely to need a third reef then change your reefing arrangement.

- W
 
Most booms are not long enough for a single line third reef so, on two boats, I've installed single 1st & 2nd but 2 line reef for the 3rd. All permanently rigged back to the cockpit.
 
I haven't bothered with the light line when things get to the third reef point. on the few times when needed with the first 2 reefs in we dropped the main and tied in the first reef to keep things tidy and then re rove the first pennant for the third reef and rehoisted.
On the occasion we thought we would need the third reef then before leaving we tied in the first reef with a spare rope that could be cut away if we wanted to go back to full main and rove the 2 pennants to the second and third reefs, we also dug out the trysail and trial rigged it before leaving and left it handy, we ended up with the boom lashed to the deck and the trysail up for 24 hours and never actually went to the third reef.
 
I have the same situation and one season I ignored 1st. reef and ran the reefing lines to positions 2 an 3. That way I had a 3rd. reef immediately available. I have to say that it wasn't a big penalty having to reef straight to reef 2 but then we never had to use reef 3. I've gone back to threading up reefs 1 & 2 now.
 
Thanks for the suggestions - and note that no-one is keen on rigging the line with a bouncing boat. I was going to set up a third reefing line over the winter on the boom, but never got around to it. I think that's probably still the way to go. I have returned to cruising only over the past couple of years, but certainly used the third reef on a few occasions and was glad of it (I always added the third reefing line when it looked as though it might be necessary).
 
dgadee said:
My boom allows two reefing lines, and my sail has three reefing points. The usual suggestion to handle a third reef is having a light line between second and third points which can be used to run the first reefing line to the third reef when needed (am I causing confusion yet?). What knot what you use to tie the reefing line to the light line? I can't imagine how this could be set up easily when the conditions get to third reef being required.
Click to expand...

Many sceptical replies so far, but I use the system that you outline and find it works reasonably well. (NB this is for slab reefing done at the mast – no experience of single line or lines led to the cockpit).
In my setup the light line runs up and down between 2nd and 3rd reef cringle. Where this line is knotted together is a small loop, 5 cm across. Into the end of the reef pennant that serves 1st and 3rd reefs is sewn a tail of light line, 10 cm or so. When the pennant is to be relocated, the tail is tied to the loop as a sheet bend and pulled through the cringle. As Tradewind sailor points out you cannot use the same anchor point on the boom as for the 1st reef, you should have an a dedicated anchor point, slider etc, for the 3rd reef.
I agree it is not comfortable doing this at sea, but still perfectly manageable. Also, what is "3rd reef conditions" will vary from boat to boat. In my case three reefs in the main and no rolls in the furling genoa makes for good balance in some conditions.
 
I've just had a third put in my Beneteau 26 which needs reefing early. I tend to leave reef two and three rigged up. I tend to think the first reef is neither here nor there and I can handle it before going straight to the 2nd. When you get caught out and it really blows I'm glad I have the third.
 
I too have three reefing points on the sail but only two lines possible in the boom. I have had three short strops made up with loops at each end, and these are led round the boom at each reefing down haul point and whipped in position. Normally when I go out for a weekend I have the lines in positions 1 and 2. If the forecast is looking a bit hairy then I simply undo reef 1 and reposition it as reef 3 before we hoist the main. Takes just a couple of minutes.
Although I would not particularly like to try it out at sea if conditions had deteriorated and the third reef was needed (say 25 to 30 knots for us), we have done it, including dropping the main and re-hoisting, within 5 minutes.
 
No idea what you boom may be like but ours has the ability to take 2 single line reefs (1st and 2nd) but also has the ability to take another 2 reefing lines but only to the back of the sail. We've got a 3rd line fitted to the boom but go forward to the mast to make the clew fast to a clip for the 3rd reef. Works OK. We seem to use the 3rd reef often enough to make it worthwhile having, despite always agreeing never to go out into conditions where we'd need it.......
 
I may - or may not - run a permanent third reefing line after I have considered all this very helpful info. Whatever I do, I need to add a block to pull the third cringle down and back. So, roughly, what is the force on a reefing line on a 30 foot boat? I have a new and unused harken cheek block which might be located in a suitable place for the third reefing line, which has a working load of 136Kg (breaking 907Kg). I presume that this block would do given that the force from the sail is halved at the point it reaches the block? Could the force on the sail be more than 250kg?
 
I can't understand anyone disregarding any reefing facility. They should (like everything else involved with safety on a boat) be available, functional and familiar.
How on Earth are those who ignore the third reef going to cope when they need it? Perhaps a case of flying home from a rocky lee shore like Billy Connolly's wildebeast...
Just because you don't choose to go out in poor weather doesn't mean it will stay away.
Perhaps the gentleman who chose to have only two reefs omitted to mention they were a bit deeper than normal - we only have one on our motor sailer but it is hugely significant.
 
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I have used shock cord, about 3/4mm fed between the 2nd and 3rd reefs. The 1st reefing pennant is tied onto the shock cord using a couple of clove hitches which are easily made in a continuous line and slipped over the reefing pennant. Access to the boom is key as usually the spray hood is in the way. So, make sure that you can reach the end of the boom (1st/3rd reefs) without hinderance. You need to plan the safety harness tie off point as well so that at the reefing position for the boom you can be secure with not much slack in the line. The 1st reefing line is not ideal but it works providing you get heavy with the winch and let the boom lift up. You may need to check that your kicking strap has sufficient play to allow this.

To reef it is safer to hove too and add the reef that way but when racing it was frequently done standing on the high side coach roof, leaning against the boom, with the harness line on the windward jackstay, nearly taught, boom sheeted for fine reaching, i.e. boom end just at the gunwale.

I wouldn't bother fitting a 3rd reef if the boom didn't have the facility and my sailing was mostly coastal with reasonable access to safe havens. I would rely on the contingency 1st as 3rd option. However, contingencies are only contingencies if they are proven to work. For long coastal sailing between safe havens, Scottish West Coast, offshore, I would always have a 3rd reef if the sail has jiffy reefing.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

BlowingOldBoots
 
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