capnsensible
Well-Known Member
Four because you can take it down completely. I do wonder sometimes why I'm out there on days like that......
Roller furling mains are a great invention, though. Saves so much hassle when short handed. :encouragement:
When do you put a reef in?
- Thread starter BelleSerene
- Start date
Four because you can take it down completely. I do wonder sometimes why I'm out there on days like that......
Roller furling mains are a great invention, though. Saves so much hassle when short handed. :encouragement:
jimi
Well-Known Member
I've got single line boom reefing, its easier to reef than shake it out! I put a reef in the main when going to windward at around 20knots apparent, second reef at about 28knots and 3 reef about 35knots+. I'll start to reef genoa at about 25knots but a lot also depends on sea state, if bashing into a rough sea I'll reef a bit earlier. Off the wind I'll hang onto sail a bit longer although again sea state counts! However thats on the Moody S38 with the fractional rig, on previous boat a Beneteau 331 I'd be reefing a bit earlier and tend to take rolls in on the genoa before reefing the main.
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Mad Pad
Well-Known Member
When do I reef ?
Normally 1/2 hr after I should have done!
Normally 1/2 hr after I should have done!
johnalison
Well-Known Member
I have no experience of sailing to windward in 35kn wind but like you, reefing is easy but shaking out a bit of a pain, so I only reef when I know I have to. It only takes a minute or two so it's not something I fret about.
Martin&Rene
Well-Known Member
+1 the time to shake it out is 15-20 minutes after wondering whether to shake it out
An Austrian we met sailing in Greece said he loved the British sayings
"If you thinking about putting a reef in, then put a reef in, if you are thinking of taking one out, make a cup of tea"
Funnily enough, I have never heard it said in Britain.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
Chuck Paine canvassed his designs enthusiastically. Working to windward I generally like to have a reef in by the time it gets to F4 but downwind I'm happy till F5 arrives. That's if I have the main up - I generally sail downwind with jib alone, with which she's happy to the top of F5.
As Seajet says, darkness changes things, and if I'm sailing overnight - which usually means on my own - I'll reef before it gets dark to suit the maximum wind that might arise overnight.
As Seajet says, darkness changes things, and if I'm sailing overnight - which usually means on my own - I'll reef before it gets dark to suit the maximum wind that might arise overnight.
PhillM
Well-Known Member
I reef when I can find enough sea room to do so, when single handed in the Solent. Often I want to reef, but have to wait for the space to do so.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
If you put your reef in whilst hove-to on the starboard tack you won't go very far and, being on the starboard tack, others should keep clear of you. No guarantee they will though! When I used to sail in the Solent and hove-to, well-meaning people would come near to see if I was in difficulty.
Tomahawk
Well-Known Member
The designers of Tomahawk said, as long as she accelerated in the gusts she is happy.
Sea state therefore comes into play for us.
Sea state therefore comes into play for us.
capnsensible
Well-Known Member
Have tried putting reefs in on a few different modern fin keelerswhilst hove to. They tend to heave to with the wind very beamy so with swept back spreaders you could snag and rip the main. Also as you de power, you often won't stay hove to. I always reckon close reaching on starboard is the easiest way.
Approaching the Azores some years ago with my wife, we encountered some interesting weather and we logged reefing in and out forty two times in twenty four hours. Keeps you fit. Also if your wife suggests topping up the fuel tank from cans during all this, then like reefing, it's best done straight away.
good job I can bleed a fuel system in a howling gale! White diesel.......
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Kukri
Well-Known Member
Upwind, the boat will tell you when to reef.
Downwind, she won't, so do it when you first think of it.
Downwind, she won't, so do it when you first think of it.
Sundowner 39
Well-Known Member
Every night just before dark.....in the trades rarely have a full Genoa or main.....do this for fun
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
Shame about the lousy set of the reefed sail, of course, but if convenience matters more than sailing performance afterwards, why not?
NormanS
Well-Known Member
Is this from actual experience, or just prejudice? Is there any reason why a roller reefed main should set any worse than a roller reefed jib?
KellysEye
Well-Known Member
We reefed when the barometer started to drop, long distance sailing we kept a log updated every hour including the barometer reading. Other things included were ships sighted, heading, position, wind speed and engine hours with total kept on every page and then added to the next page for a running total.
flaming
Well-Known Member
Not really they are both compromises. Mainly because by rolling from the luff you change the shape of the sail from luff to leach, so the camber is often then in the wrong part of the sail - i.e too far aft. And you lose the ability to adjust the position of the camber in the usual way - halyard tension.
For most cruising sailors this is of pretty minimal importance, but if performance, and particularly upwind performance is your aim then it is definitely a compromise.
Seajet
...
Jeez,
you must be a lot more popular than me, in the Solent I usually have tons of space to round up and reef or do whatever I like - I hate this impression everyone is within touching distance, in fact separation is judged by fractions of miles, not metres !
mjcoon
Well-Known Member
Yes, a main cannot have extra bulk around the foil to control the way it rolls, unlike a jib, because there is no room in the mast.
Mike.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Of course it is not from experience. Always easier to criticise when you have no experience.
Anybody would think that people who advocate in mast don't know about the potential drawbacks, when in most cases they are experienced and have worked out that the compromises are worth having
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Never seen that as a problem, and the latest 105% jibs such as I have do not need the extra bulk around the foil if the luff is cut properly. Also there is less need to reduce jib size with a mainsail biased rig. I was out a couple of weeks ago in 25 knots with gusts. 3 or 4 rolls in jib and about half the main out. The main tool for adjusting the shape of the main is the outhaul. Very comfortable sailing.