Three reefs ?

Re: Three reefs ? - ok lets make it simple

I agree with Snowleopard, you could fit an external reefing line. Personally, I'm not keen on leading it through bulls-eyes, it can still hang in loops. On my boat I have threaded reefing lines through small diameter plastic pipes screwed along the boom, which keeps them neatly out of the way.

Just a thought.
 
Re: Three reefs ? - ok lets make it simple

Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions!

I have gone to windward at 6 knots in a force 9 without recourse to a trysail (once under storm jib, once under bare pole).

You'll probably make more friends around here if you don't dive in and tell all and sundry they're a bunch of know-nothings. You may not in fact have a monopoly on nautical knowledge though from the tone of that post I don't expect you to believe it.
 
Re: Three reefs ? - ok lets make it simple

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I have gone to windward at 6 knots in a force 9 without recourse to a trysail (once under storm jib, once under bare pole).


[/ QUOTE ]

You can do 6 knots to windward under bare poles!?

Agree though that a good storm jib is more important than a trisail.
 
Re: Three reefs ? - ok lets make it simple

I've only rigged a trysail once, and that was to prove to a scrutineer that we could. I came away with the conclusion that it was not something I would like to have to do for real on a dark and stormy night.

Later in that regatta we did have one race in very strong winds (max gust we saw was 65kts, 'standard' windspeed was about 45-50 kts). I didn't see one trysail being used but everyone seemed quite OK with the third reef in.
 
Re: Three reefs ? - ok lets make it simple

[ QUOTE ]
You can do 6 knots to windward under bare poles!?

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, and 9 on a reach.
 
Re: Three reefs ? - ok lets make it simple

I'm so sorry everyone. Joe hasn't been taking his medication again. Last month he was advising people how to get to the top as a rally driver. This month he thinks hes Joshua Slocum. The only boat hes ever been on was a Channell Ferry. He was seasick.
He means no harm but hes not a sailer hes a post office cleark in wimbledon. Ill try to make sure he takes his tablets in future.

MrsSlarty
 
Re: Three reefs ? - ok lets make it simple

Once again thanks to those posting sensible replies - I really like the idea of the 3rd loose reefing line - much better to have it all set up before venturing out and SL, DuncanHB2 & TK's thoughts most welcome.

In answer to SL - we reverted to standard slab reefing when we removed the awful behind mast reefing fitted by the previous owner (in a sad attempt to carry on sailing into their seventies) - all reefing gear at the mast. However we have a stack pack which I think could get in the way a bit and might need some modification - to permit another clutch on the boom and blocks etc.. Would also really like it if we could set the 3rd reef up in such a way that I can use the self-tailer which has made reefing much much easier for a feeble female. Perhaps this is a happy winter project ?

Penny
 
When the wind is such taht you need a 3rd reef it wont be the time that you want to be playing about with untying and re-tying reefing lines or getting anywhere near the end of teh boom. I've done it a couple of tiomes recently with a crew of 4 and I know it would be virtually impossible with only two up. The solution for me will be that the next mainsail will only have two reefing points at about points 1.5 and 2.7 (compared with 3 at points 1,2,3). I know then I will use the "second" reef when I really should as opposeed to the current temptation of "we will press on with 2 reefs cos getting the 3rd one in is so difficult and dangerous"
 
Thats kind of the conclusion we reached. We've never yet had need of the third reef, but the weather this year started us thinking about it a bit more seriously.......

For much the same reason not keen to go down the trysail route. We have no separate track and removing the main to fit a trysail would also be less than entertaining two handed.

We'd always assumed that some kind of external reefing system would be the answer, but we were interested to hear other peoples ideas.

hould also have mentioned that our main is relatively new, so would prefer to be able to utilise the third set of reef points.
Cheers

Colin
 
One thing to think about when going for the third reef option is the quality and build of your sail.
Had three reefs on a previous boat as supplied by the manufacturer. Unfortuntely the sail wasn't of "high quality" and after a few times with 3 reefs in 30 odd knots it took on some very odd stretch patterns.
So make sure your sail is really made for the abuse it will take when tripple reefed and be prepared to sacrifice light wind performance and some ease of handling (due to the higher weight) for a sail that can really handle it.
 
We have 3 reefs and another flattening reef/cunningham. The 3 reefs all go back in a 2-line system to the cockpit, all 3 lines are via the boom as is the flattener (so 4 lines total in boom) but the flattener is dealt with at the mast with the cunningham - these are in effect a tiny reef that flattens the bottom of the sail. We also have a trysail track ready and waiting for the day it snows in hell and I might venture on deck to use it. I would either change your boom for one with 4 end blocks or add a 3rd external one on a short track, you can switch lines via a pre-reeved mouse line from reef 2 to reef 3 clew eyes but 2 up that is extra hassle and would lead IMO to putting off doing it. Spend a bit of cash on a good cockpit slab system and you will not regret it, but it does need turning blocks/organisers/clutches and coachroof winches.

Sorry we missed you in DM BTW, we are currently in Concarneau going north again where it is forecast F7/8, on an obliging wifi signal.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif There are worse places to be!
 
We also have 3 reefs permanently rove. On the handful of occasions when I've used the 3rd reef (over the 5 years we've owned our present boat) I wouldn't want to be anywhere near the boom end
 
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