Shes a Heeler

[hinmo]

My new to me 25 really heels (ALOT !). It was gusting to 20kts last nite, All 4 of us on the rail and she got water in the cockpit several times with extreme weather helm. Full sails a-flying.

Options were:
1) JIB ONLY
2) MAIN ONLY
3) PARTIAL REEFING OF ONE OR ANOTHER

Since I have a new jib furler, that would have been the easiest to trim. Has anyone experience with taming a CD25?

Thanks

[Megunticook]

My TySenior is 22.5', so a little smaller, but similar boat in many ways.

Anything 15 knots or above and you're better off reefing the main. You'll go faster, stay drier, and be more relaxed. I rarely heel more than 25 degrees (except sometimes if a gust hits I'll temporarily heel further).

As far as the weather helm, you may want to look carefully at your mast rake. You should be able to adjust this with your rigging, moving the boat's center of effort foreward. In strong wind you should definitely have to tug at the tiller a bit, especially when a gust hits, but in moderate winds it should not require much effort.

[mgphl52]

Yep! Take the first reef on your main before you shorten the jib.
This worked fine on my CD25 and I do the same on KAYLA.
You can also use a boom vang to flatten the main to allow it to be eased out.

[Steve Laume]

The suggestions thus far have been right on. An old and badly shaped but otherwise good main will also induce a lot of heel.

Never one to shy away from a sensitive issue I would also question your sail trim. If you are over sheeting your main, it will definitely induce more heel and not give you your optimum speed.

If you are sailing the boat properly, including reefing when needed, I have found it hard to put the rail in the water without some larger waves involved, Steve.

[gates_cliff]

Although I don't have nearly the experience as previous posters, I'll add my $.02.

I agree with the point about reefing. One time in particular, I was sailing up the Chesapeake with 20+ winds, and found out later that they were gusting over 30. I had reefed ahead of time and enjoyed a spectacular early spring (mid-March) sail and never buried the rail.

Also, re/ tuning. I was experiencing significant weather helm. After having my mast pulled one year, I was able to get the rig tuned to the point that it now "feels" right.

[Neil Gordon]

>>Full sails a-flying.<<

I think I see the problem. Try sailing in the same conditions with a reef in the main.

[M. R. Bober]

I agree with the "reefers." Also if you have a traveler, ease it to the lee.

Mitchell Bober
Sunny Lancaster, (Where it is currently hot, really too hot to sail.) VA

[hinmo]

Thanks folks. I will reef the main.

BIG Question - is my 74 equipped for roller (as indicated by the manual and seems to have the boom style) or has it been upgraded for jiffy (evidenced by cringle and grommets)?

The sail appears to have one set of reefing points, indicating jiffy. Some of the hardware is there but not all....such as a tack reef cleat or reef hook.

I guess I can improvise.

Also, Does anyone flake the sail with the reef left in at the mooring?

Thanks

[pjust]

IMHO, the order of reefing has to do with the size of the jib. I have a roller-furling 135% genoa jib on my Ty, so if the wind is getting up much above 15kts, I'll reef the jib down to a smaller size, before reefing the main. In very high winds I'll take the jib down further and move the sheets to the fairleads inside the stays. I'll also change into my brown pants.

This year I put a jiffy-reefing rig on the main, allowing me to reef the main at the mast. It's much easier, so I'm less reluctant to reef if looks like winds are building and it's also easier to shake out a reef if the winds drop later. Recommended.

[Neil Gordon]

The sail appears to have one set of reefing points, indicating jiffy. Some of the hardware is there but not all....such as a tack reef cleat or reef hook...

Also, Does anyone flake the sail with the reef left in at the mooring?

It's likely the sail maker put in reef points regardless of how the boat was set up.

If you're not set up for jiffy reefing, just do what was done for several hundred years before jiffy reefing was invented... lash the new clew to the boom and tie in an out haul, so the clew is held both down and back; lash the new tack to the boom. It takes a bit longer and you need to make a few extra trips back and forth. It helps if you have a "kit" available, with all the needed lashings in one place and readily available.

If I land with a reef in place, I tend to leave it there. It's easy enough to shake out if I don't need it the next time. (I also commonly haul in on the jiffy reef line as I drop the main, as it makes it easier to gather up.)

[hinmo]

Exactly my thoughts Neil - I will improvise and make it work for this season....and leave reefed at the mooring (flaked as well).
Thanks

[Dick Kobayashi]

I am in Mattapoisett Harbor (MBY Mooring) and know the problem you describe. Advice:

When heeling too much - release the traveler and/or let out the main to spill wind.

Otherwise reef the main. I often leave the mooring with the main reefed - easier to shake it out than to put it in when underway. For my boat (25D) anything over 15knts requires a reef.

Sailing with a high degree of heel can be fun for a while, but is hard on the gear and also on the crew.

Where are you moored?

[hinmo]

Hi Dick- I was admiring your CD and the one next to it today. I occasionally drive the MBY launch (just got off my shift).

"esCape" is moored over by eel pond off the town wharf (1/2 way between the town wharf and the Camp).

Hope to meet you sometime!

[Markst95]

John I've always heard its not good to leave a reef in while in storage, puts too much tension on the sail and can damage it long term. Also a good idea to loosen the outhaul while in storage.

[Neil Gordon]

John I've always heard its not good to leave a reef in while in storage, puts too much tension on the sail and can damage it long term. Also a good idea to loosen the outhaul while in storage.

Easy enough to ease the reef outhaul. No need to shake out the whole reef.