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

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simon10

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I have been caught a couple of times in strong winds with to much canvas up. I know I should have reefed earlier, but I have left to late. Yet again, I was thinking that the wind might drop off.

I was sailing Goosewinged with a preventer on, in the south coast of England, with full canvas up, in 20 knots of wind on a 10 hour passage. After a few of hours in, it has increased to 30 knots, also just to add a bit of spice the tide had now changed, and we are now sailing wind against 2 knots of tide creating a nice chop.

My boat is a Beneteau 50 with single line slab reefing, fully battened sail with a Harken track and cars up the mast. So is it possible to slowly ease the halyard & reef a couple of feet a time sailing downwind?
What would be the safest and easiest way to bring the boat under control, with only my wife as crew?

The honest reason for not dealing with this problem earlier is;
Sailing in English weather is driving me mad. When it’s raining, and cold, the hassle of reefing the main, then to find the wind has dropped off 1 hour latter, and then to shake out the reef is a bit of a pain. Maybe the only answer is to sail in the Med? Everything seems better on sunny days, clear blue seas, and no tide.

Apart from moving to Greece, I would really appreciate your opinions in unravelling a potentially dangerous situation.
 
I don't know about boats of that size but if it were me I would (and have) remove the preventer, roll up some genoa then come into a hove-to position.
At this point all goes quiet (relatively) and it should be fairly easy to put a reef in the main.
 
Short of rounding up head to wind etc you could ease the preventer haul the main central then by easing the main halyard you should be able to crank the reefs down and ease the main out and tighten up the preventer. Or just drop the main rather than reefing and sail under genoa alone.
 
Dead downwind in strong winds is dangerous. Preventers are OK at lower wind strengths but something will probably break if you accidentally gybe when the wind comes up. Gybe the headsail, reef main and go reach and reach.
 
Let the mainsheet go so the boom goes out over the bows. Walk up to the foredeck and pull down the reef. Walk back to the cockpit and sheet in again. Simples.
 
alahol2 said:
I don't know about boats of that size but if it were me I would (and have) remove the preventer, roll up some genoa then come into a hove-to position.
At this point all goes quiet (relatively) and it should be fairly easy to put a reef in the main.
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I Agree.

P.S. As a safe guide, sail downwind with the same canvas as you would tack.
 
simon10 said:
I have been caught a couple of times in strong winds with to much canvas up. I know I should have reefed earlier, but I have left to late. Yet again, I was thinking that the wind might drop off.
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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
 
reddragon2 said:
Erm, shrouds and spreaders?
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I think it was a joke - least I hope it was!

I have tried hauling a reef in going downwind and it's very hard work. I think that sheeting the main into a central position with the wind right behind reduces the wind in the sail as much as possible and gives you the best chance. Turning to windward is not always an attractive proposition once the wind and sea state have increased.
 
Take the Genoa across to the leeward side.
Park the pole as it will just batter the forestay. On a boat that size it should be easy as the heal will be on a mast track.
Roll up some Genoa
Start to luff slowly
When the main is in a position to reef, reef.

Return to your previous course.

If you have left it too late then you really need to get the Genoa sorted other wise there will be a lot of unnecessary flapping or too much tension on a back winded full genoa. Its never a good idea to force a roller reef if the sail is drawing too much.

You have to get the main sail off the mast and that requires a luff.

With a single line reefing system, probably a stack pack system, fully battened main and batten cars, there should be very little hassle in reefing. If its all lead back to the cockpit and you have a rod kicker, then you could do this in your carpet slippers.
 
But to be serious, for those among us who don't have the benefit of unstayed rotating rigs, decent in-mast furling or a gaffer...

The easy way is to use the motor to hold the boat head to wind but that runs the risk of a stray line getting into the prop. Under sail, round up, harden in the headsail and let the main out sufficiently to take the weight of wind out of it without flogging. Get someone to steer to keep the headsail just filled and making a little headway. Some boats will lie happily like that with the helm lashed.

The nasty bit is the fact that unless you are a very cautious and careful sailor you have left it a bit too long and turning into the increased wind and sea is going to be a wet noisy and alarming business with your speed now being added to the true wind rather than subtracted.

Those of us who can reef downwind find it an altogether more pleasant task.
 
Thanks for your replies,

How about let the geneo flap reef it in a bit. Centre the main downwind put a reef in, No turning into wind stuff. Would this be ok?
 
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