third reef

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tomainsley

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I'm putting a third reef onto my boat and i noticed that there are only two of those little eyes at the bottom of the boom that the reefing pennants go through, already used (i don't know the name).
a) is there a way of fitting one without taking off the boom end?
b) are they really necessary? I i was goining to tie a fixed loop in the end of the pennant and feed the working end round the boom, through the loop and up the sail. I can't see what the eye is used for with this configuration. Any suggestions?
 
Like you, I only have two reefing pennants. In strong conditions I usually drop the main completely and
proceed on partly furled genny alone.

However I have imagined that, if I need three reefs I would undo the first reef penant from the boom, thread it thru the third reef cringle and then wind it in. I don't know how easy this would be in storm conditions!
 
It's quite common to only have the first two slab reefs with pennants permanently rove. When you take in the second reef you will decide on the basis of the information available whether it's likely that you may need a further reduction; if so then take the first reefing pennant off and re-reeve it as the third, to be used next.

In relation to your boom a photo might help, there are many different arrangements and I can't quite visualise yours.
 
If you reeve a loop of thin shockcord between the second and third reefs, when the second reef is in, you can use the shockcord to carry the end of the first reefing line through the third reef, enabling you to rig the third reef safely.
The reefing lines need to pull the reef clews both out and down, this is generally best achieved by tying the free end around the boom, some sails have a slot in the foot for the purpose. On a loose foot sail it's easy of course. Otherwise, the reef line must be anchored to the boom in pretty much the right place, and on a very strong fitting. No point setting a reefed sail that you cannot get flat! Some booms with tracks in the bottom can have free sliding attachments in the track for reefs.
 
Have a slot (leather edged) or a cringle cut into the bottom of the main, directly under the third reef leech cringle. Line goes up to leech cringle from boom end, down under boom, through slot or eye, and ties off on itself. Robert's your dad's brother.

If your main is loose footed, just tie off around the boom, no need for slots or eyes.
 
I have got 3 reefs and can only have 2 pennants threaded thro' boom end and along inside of boom.

The 3rd pennant (which I happen to use as my first reef) goes from a strong point screwed to outer side of boom at the right place (ie. to give both downward and aft pull on the sail) up to the reef cringle, then down to a cheek block on the other side of the boom (again placed correctly), then forward along the side of the boom (using eyes to carry the line) to a cleat on the boom itself near to the gooseneck. An alternative would be to have another cheek block at the mast end of the boom so that the pennant can lead down to a deck organiser and then back to cockpit.

All the fittings for the third reef pennant are screwed onto either side of the boom so that removal of the end is unnecessary.
Michael Minnitt
 
[ QUOTE ]
I'm putting a third reef onto my boat and i noticed that there are only two of those little eyes at the bottom of the boom that the reefing pennants go through, already used (i don't know the name).
a) is there a way of fitting one without taking off the boom end?
b) are they really necessary? I i was goining to tie a fixed loop in the end of the pennant and feed the working end round the boom, through the loop and up the sail. I can't see what the eye is used for with this configuration. Any suggestions?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think I understand what you mean and its much better to do what you suggest, I wouldnt trust those eyes under the boom to hold in bad conditions.
Usually you take the pennant down, round the boom, twice back up and round the pennant and then finish with a bowline. That way the reef tightens around the boom and as long as you keep the bowline small the reefed sail can lie very close to the boom. To be able to do this requires that you have a loose footed mainsail or slot for the reefing line to go through.
 
Apologies for being wise after the event but my last sloop, originally a basic cruiser, had a few extras for racing round the cans, specifically a loose-footed main with four reefs squeezed into the space of three (rather like a 5-speed gearbox really.)

The advantage was that they were all close enough to reach from the cockpit for the boom had four internal control lines: clew outhaul, leech Cunningham and two slabs.

To think of the number of times on charter boats that I'd walked along the boom to reeve the next slab - horrendous!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Apologies for being wise after the event but my last sloop, originally a basic cruiser, had a few extras for racing round the cans, specifically a loose-footed main with four reefs squeezed into the space of three (rather like a 5-speed gearbox really.)

The advantage was that they were all close enough to reach from the cockpit for the boom had four internal control lines: clew outhaul, leech Cunningham and two slabs.



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What's a Leech cunningham? Is this something else that's before my time...?
 
also known as a flattener reef, usually about 12 inch up leach and used same as a reef point but has no luff cringle to match, other than the cunningham cringle. when used usually on a beat it takes out the fullness from the foot of the sail, found mainly on fractional rigs I believe. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
On the occasions I've had to tie a third reef, I've found messing around reusing the first line on a bouncing boat quite unnerving. So, last year I rigged up a third, dedicated line for the third reef. Needed to mount an extra block at the forward end of the boom, and an extra clutch on the coachroof. I used 8mm dyneema to give adequate strength without excessive windage.

On the one occasion I needed it last summer, I was very glad to be able to pull down the reef without doing acrobatics on the boom end.

Tony MS
 
many thanks for the advice, the third reef is going in this weekend, wih the pennant going on round the boom (loose/footed main) and through the bowline tied in the end of the pennant.
cheers
 
[ QUOTE ]
also known as a flattener reef, usually about 12 inch up leach and used same as a reef point but has no luff cringle to match, other than the cunningham cringle. when used usually on a beat it takes out the fullness from the foot of the sail, found mainly on fractional rigs I believe. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah right, a flattener reef. They've become redundant with improvements in sail design and material.
 
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