Whats the correct prcedure for Slab Reefing?

[Adrian]

my previous boat had round the mast furling, it wasn't untill i wanted to put a reef in for the first time at the weekend i realised i wasn't entirly sure how to do it!! I'm OK with the mast side its where the reefing ropes go to i'm not sure about.

I know this must sound very basic but its been so long since i used slab reefing i cant remember how to set it up!

Anybody recomend any good web sites to jog my memory!!

Thanks

<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kydproducts.co.uk>http://www.kydproducts.co.uk</A>

 

[jimi]

depends on your slab reefing arrangement, Is it single line or do you have bull's horns on the mast?

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[Adrian]

Bulls horns.

<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kydproducts.co.uk>http://www.kydproducts.co.uk</A>

 

[jimi]

I'd do it like this:

kicker off
release mainsheet
topping lift up
halyard down
cringle on horn
halyard up set up hard
winch in reefing line
topping lift off
main sheet on
kicker on





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[tome]

Procedure is

1 Ease sheet &/or kicker
2 Take up topping lift
3 Ease halyard until reefing point can be dropped over horn
4 Sweat up halyard
5 Pull in reefing line to bring new clew to boom
6 Ease topping lift
7 Sheet in main &/or kicker

On my boat I've marked the main halyard with coloured whippings to indicate the halyard positions for each reef (3). I ease the halyard until the appropriate mark is just ahead of the clutch, this brings the reefing point nicely in line to drop it over the horn. I have a second white whipping ahead of each mark. I wind up the halyard until the white mark is just through the clutch and the job is done.

I keep sailing on the jib whilst reefing rather than heading into the wind with the jib flapping round my ears. I can reef the main right up to a beam reach. Some people prefer to heave-to whilst reefing.

Regards
Tom

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[gtmoore]

Being a bit new to this - can I ask what the reason is for altering the topping lift during the reef operation?

<hr width=100% size=1>Gavin

 

[tome]

Without the topping lift to support it the boom will simply drop to the deck when you release the halyard.

Regards
Tom

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[jimi]

lifts the boom and releases tension on the leech so that the reefing line can be whacked in quicker and tighter to the boom.

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[Adrian]

Thanks for that, I’m afraid I didn’t make my post clear! The reefing lines are not connected to the sail. The lines come out of the end of the boom, do I tie these directly to the reefing eye on the sail? Or should they pass through some ware else first? I vaguely remember the reefing lines coming vertically down to the boom.

<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kydproducts.co.uk>http://www.kydproducts.co.uk</A>

 

[jimi]

normally they come out the end of the boom and up to an eye, through it and back down and attached pernamently to a fitting on the boom. When the line is tensioned it pulls the slab down and also acts as the new clew outhaul.

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[Adrian]

Just as i thought...............................;-)

Thanks

<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kydproducts.co.uk>http://www.kydproducts.co.uk</A>

 

[tome]

They should emerge at the after end of the boom and are then lead up through the appropriate eyes on the leach and back down to the boom on the other side. You should have corresponding cleats or eyes for each reef mounted on the sides of the boom.

The lead should be aft and down so that the reefing line acts as an outhaul and downhaul to get the leach reefing eye close to the boom.

You'll probably have to experiment on a calm day to get the lines correctly lead. I did mine this morning in a flat calm as I'd somehow mis-threaded the third and it was twisted around the 2nd.

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[tome]

Oi Jimi

Get off my shoulder!

Regards
Tom

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[gtmoore]

Jim and Tom

The penny drops. The fact that I don't appear to need to do this implies that my topping lift is too tight during normal sailing. This would also affect the mainsheet's ability to control the sail shape?

Oh how I have so much to learn!

Thanks



<hr width=100% size=1>Gavin

 

[tome]

We all have a lot to learn, which is what makes it fun!

One thing we haven't mentioned is that if you have a boom strut which supports the boom then it isn't generally necessary to touch the topping lift.

If the boom is being supported by the topping lift whilst sailing there will be excessive twist in the main and you'll be losing drive. Done it by accident on more than one occasion.

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[sailorbaz]

I've read all the replies on this post and nobody has mentioned tying the reefing points to the boom. My mainsail has three reefing points at each of the three reef positions in addition to the slab reefing arrangement discussed here. Is the feeling that it's not necessary to tie the sail down along the foot?
Sailorbaz

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[tome]

I don't usually bother to tie down for the first couple of reefs, but do for the 3rd as by then there's a lot of sail hanging off the boom. It's important to lace the sail round the boom with a continuous line rather than to tie off each reefing eye as the latter method will put a strain on the sail which can be enough to tear it.

If I reef before I leave or anticipate a longer sail I will lace the 2nd reef.

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[mickshep]

Thats me confused now! I was always told never to lace the sail round the boom when reefed as the eyes in the sail were not strong enough and were intended to gather up and tidy the loose area of sail only, the larger cringles at the luff and clew taking all the strain. This fits in with the built in reefing lines on older sails (tied off with a 'reef' knot when in use) which are long enough to gather in the sail, but not long enough to go round the boom. Of course things may have changed, I am happy to admit to being an 'Aud Git' and look forward to other opinions on this matter as my new boat (a mere slip at 42 years) hasn't got the tied in reef points of the last one, just a row of eyelets. Fair winds, Mike

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[tome]

This was my understanding also until I did a CS practical course where we were taught the lacing method - apparently it has more give than individual ties. Whichever method, it should be just tight enough too gather the sail.

Cheers
Tom

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[Sybarite]

Mick,

I agree entirely with you that no strain should be put on the reefing eyes. The sails are not reinforced for this. This was brought home to me a few years ago when a so-called experienced crew shook out the reef before undoing the lines - thus ripping the mainsail.

JOhn

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