When to Reef

[Major_Clanger]

I've just been out to check the boat's mooring lines and it is quite windy out... It reminded me of an RYA Yachtmaster practical video from the early 80s, and the sage, but quite funny advice from the skipper on when to reef:

"The time to put your first reef in is when you first think of it.
The time to put your second reef in is when the tea's blown out of your cup.
The time to put the third reef in is when it blows the cup out of your hand."

Probably an old one but it did make I larff.

 

[davidej]

And make a cup of tea before you shake them out.

 

[Kukri]

Much good advice in those two posts!

I will just add the old chestnut that when you are going to windward, the boat will tell you when she wants a reef, and when you are running, she won't say a word. In the case of the ex boat, with whom I had a 29 year relationship, she would say nothing but would have good laugh when I found out what a prat I had just made of myself..

 

[Athene V30]

I agree with the first reef but as I have a cup with a lid I will have to miss out reef No2!

As for shaking out I always wait half an hour after I think of it!

 

[PaulRainbow]

If the lee shrouds are hanging limply from the mast, is it too late ?

 

[sailorman]

Any other former racers here

 

[johnalison]

The answer also came to the late great Michael Green in 'Coarse Sailing'. If my memory serves me, it was a breezy day near Potter Heigham in their hired boat (you don't 'charter' on the Broads) and they were humming and haaing as to whether to reef when the narrator saw a seagull flying past - backwards.

 

[Concerto]

If the lee shrouds are hanging limply from the mast, is it too late ?

Not too late to tighten the rigging a bit as it takes less effort. Who cares if the mast is upright?

 

[ninjod]

If the lee shrouds are hanging limply from the mast, is it too late ?

No, not necessarily. if however the windward ones hang limply then you’ve a problem..

 

[Hydrozoan]

... in their hired boat (you don't 'charter' on the Broads) ...

Very ‘non-U’ to say you are, I imagine!

 

[nigelm]

If the good lady wife can no longer stay on the cockpit seat without sliding off , time to whack in a reef

Son on other hand sits in cockpit floor and says how fast we going dad ?

 

[RupertW]

When the knot on the wheel goes past 3 o'clock in a gust

But we abandoned the single reef this year and set up the third permanently (only a 15 minute job in calm weather to reverse that), as we found that our discussion was my wife saying, "We need to reef, maybe double", me saying, "Let's see what single looks like", then me single reefing then getting the death stare so (correctly) double reefing.

Still have never used third reef but I'm glad it's an easy option now.

 

[johnalison]

When the knot on the wheel goes past 3 o'clock in a gust

But we abandoned the single reef this year and set up the third permanently (only a 15 minute job in calm weather to reverse that), as we found that our discussion was my wife saying, "We need to reef, maybe double", me saying, "Let's see what single looks like", then me single reefing then getting the death stare so (correctly) double reefing.

Still have never used third reef but I'm glad it's an easy option now.

Drifting slightly - that is why I have only two reefs, with the second nearly as deep as a normal third. I am unlikely to be doing oceans, so this is more than deep enough for me, in fact I hardly ever use it. Different boats have different requirements, but it is something that anyone getting a new main should think about, if only to save a few bob.

 

[Kukri]

According to the latest edition of "Heavy Weather Sailing", Sir R K-J does not believe in trysails.

I am not in his class, and I do like mine, so it's smaller than the third reef.

When I sailed rather desperate old boats, but was young, fit, and of course immortal, the boat wanted to reef before I did. Now, I want to reef before the boat does.