What's the best way to Reef downwind in 30 knots?

[KellysEye]

What we did was Jane would steer us onto a reach. I would release the boom until the main flapped and then reefed it. Turning into a strong wind is difficult to say the least and then almost impossible to hold the boat into wind in big waves/swells which are trying to push the bows off, been there and would never do it again.

 

[Heckler]

Me too!

There's no way I can get my mainsail down with the wind aft because once the halyard is eased the sail presses too hard on the shrouds and may also get a batten the wrong side of them.

The only way I know is to wait for a lull, turn head to wind and heave to. Then things quieten down and I can crawl up the side deck to the mast and put a reef or two in.

If anyone knows a better way (apart from reefing earlier!) I'd be glad to hear it

Same as me. Going down the Portuguese coast last year was testing. Morning, lo winds from the NW with up to 3m swell. Afternoon building to late 20s. First time tried to ease it down with the wind aft, exactly the scenario you describe! Learned to put the donk on, look over my shoulder and then hang a big right at the bottom of the swell. I am better at holding head to wind, swmbo would then do the biz. All lines lead to the cockpit so no going to the mast unless completely dousing the sail, she is brave and nimble!
S

 

[Robin]

we were able in extremis to pull reefs in a fully battened 3 reef main off the wind, all done from the cockpit but the sail was on roller bearing mast cars. The battens being full length helped prevent them getting forced behind the shrouds. We had a two line reefing arrangement, so the tack reefs with main halyard loosened and boom supported by the gas kicker, could be wound down through clutches , using one of the two coachroof self tailer winches This winch, for normal reefing with the wind forward of the beam would not be required to pull down the tacks, except afterwards to retension the main halyard after the slab was in place. The clew reefs were handled via a second self tailer moutedon the other side of the companionway hatch. This was the set up we had on our Sun Legende 41. Prior to that we had a similar slab system on a w 33, but all handled at the mast and although we had a fully battened sail then too it was not on roller bearing cars, a huge difference.

 

[Jamesuk]

ONE OPTION: (motor)

1) check for lines in the water
2) Start your engine.
3( Get the engine up to an RPM to take some load off the sails (without picking up loads of
Speed)
4)furl away genoa
5) sit for a while, full main might be ok
If not
1) reef how you would usually reef the main under engine.
.... Carry on.

You mention your wife, as if she is a weakness in your sail handling ability.... Look into that.

ANOTHER OPTION:

I think it has been mentioned: Simply centre the main and furl away some genoa you could use the engine to take load off.

 

[biscuit]

I haven't read all the posts but I would have put the main away at 25+ kts and sailed on under Genoa alone. Simple, safe, more stable and just as quick!

 

[lw395]

I haven't read all the posts but I would have put the main away at 25+ kts and sailed on under Genoa alone. Simple, safe, more stable and just as quick!

Just a bit challenged if you need to be prepared to sail upwind.
And in some sea states, I'd prefer a reefed main with preventer to a genoa which might get unstable.
Some boats, some situations, I'd be happier with a deep reefed main, it keeps options open.
Good call a lot of the time though.

 

[charles_reed]

First two are single line reefs from cockpit - by the time it had reached 30knots I'd have had those two reefs in and would be putting in the 3rd (slab) reef.
Reach under foresail alone, with main unpowered - pull down reef tails and use a length of rope to drag down the luff.

Boat has a fully battened main 32m2 which will only come down head to wind.

I'm afraid being caught like that is just slovenly sailing. But having easy-to-put-in reefs is a good start so you don't feel inclined to put off reefing.