whats your boat, and at what wind speed to you reef?

Maxi 1100. I'm fractionally rigged so can tweak the main before reefing. For cruising comfort I put the first reef in at about 22-24 knots apparent. I've a 110% genoa and I leave this alone until I need to put reef no. 2 in.
 
Sigma 362. The wind speed at which I reef is going down and down as I realize that the boat goes faster upright and reefed than heeled with lots of sail. Heeled with lots of sail looks better mind you.

So flattening reef and Cunningham on when consistently above 15kt. One reef in main and put the number 2 on when consistently above 18kt. Two reefs and number 3 when consistently above 24kt
 
Having sailed a Shipman 28 for a few years, that sounds about right.

I did some work on improving the boom outhaul and put a cunningham on, which meant more control on the main which meant that you could flatten the sail more easily than with the standard system, this made it more manageable in the 20-25 knot range.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Sigma 362. The wind speed at which I reef is going down and down as I realize that the boat goes faster upright and reefed than heeled with lots of sail. Heeled with lots of sail looks better mind you.

So flattening reef and Cunningham on when consistently above 15kt. One reef in main and put the number 2 on when consistently above 18kt. Two reefs and number 3 when consistently above 24kt

[/ QUOTE ]

Moody 44,

long time, (2 years or so), since I've sailed in windy conditions, but I'm pretty sure the above applies to me.

Cheers

Richard
 
Parker 275 . First reef in the main at 20 knots apparent wind. genoa rolled upwind at about 22, second reef in main about 25 knots. 28 knots more rolls, 32 knots go home! sails beautifully though, always well balanced and responsive.
 
I had a Foxcub 18 which was OK until 20 mph and as I never investigated the roller boom reefing I just went home if it got breezier, course you could let out the sheets or play with the traveller and sail a bit steadier, but over 25 mph was too much like hard work.

(on a lake you can go home easily) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Rustler 36. Much depends on seastate and setup (I should reef the main sooner if using windvane steering than hand steering). However, assuming hand steering and channel rather than ocean seas, I should reckon on the following (true wind, not apparent):
Ist reef: 18 kt
2nd reef: 25 kt
3rd reef: 30 kt
 
Wayfarer.
Singlehanded: one reef at 10mph, reef and small jib above 13mph, 2 reefs and small jib if it's windier or lumpier; 2 reefs no jib above 20mph.
With crew: have carried all sail up to 25mph but it was scary. Normally start reefing as above but start at about 15mph.
A lot depends on how far from home I'm planning on going, experience of my crew, and whether I want excitement or relaxation.
 
Amadeus, sorry to hijack this thread........do you still have that cruising chute for sale? I sent you a Personal Message a while back about it.
 
A tip I was given several years ago on a yacht with wheel steering. Place 3 pieces of tape on the wheel rim at 10 O'clock, 12 O'clock and 2 O,clock positions.Sailing closehauled if the wheel position at 10 becomes 12 continuously take in the first reef in the Main. The wheel position should revert to the 12 position ;if the wind increases so that the 10 position recurs, then take in the 2nd reef and the reversion to the 12 position is re-established.On the opposite tack it is the 2 o'Clock positions that work. Note that the genoa or jib has not been reefed. Ive given this tip to first -time wheel helms and they found it a good indicator depending upon how tender thieir yacht was. Haven't any tips for tiller users though!
 
Sun Odyssey 35, lightish modern AWB: to windward first reef at about 12-14 knots true wind if any sea running, can hold unreefed to about 18 knots in flat water, though just as fast reefed. Offwind must be reefed main by 20 knots true, tend to double reef main offwind before rolling genoa.

On previous boat - much heavier long-keeler - could sail unreefed in 30-35 knots if you had to, though very over-on-ear. A slug in light airs though, whilst the SO35 is quite fast in light winds.
 
Contest 48, a heavy weight so loves a bit of wind, but anything above 18knots constant and well reefed, then goes like a train! If you don't, then on your ear, not able to make a proper coffee and down a knot or so on speed....always reef early and it pays dividends.. IMHO
 
Sadler 29. first reef in main when the rubbing strake is consistantly under (about 20 degrees heel) or when the helm gets heavy. That's about force 4-5 (don't know knots, windy's bust and I don't see the need for it anyway) Offwind I tend to reef the main first, on the wind the genoa. She's more comfortable and faster reefed.

Offwind she goes well with genoa only, on the wind with flattened main only. Dead downwind genny and cruising chute, no main, makes her more comfortable but not reccommend in crowded waters! I agree with the 'reef as soon as you think of it' school and lines to the cockpit make it so much easier single handed.
 
Island Packet 370, pretty heavy stiff boat, I'm also of the "reef-when-you-think-it" school but have sailed near 25knots with full main and genoa, sensibly somewhere in the low 20's is normal. She's a cutter so we can cheat and sail with full main and staysail in higher winds but I don't suppose that counts... however it's a very useful combination on a windy beat, especially if short tacking.
 
I do it by feel.When the boat feels strained and things get noisy I reef and always end up going faster and quieter.Most of the time I have the instrumens off anyway.
 
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