Shes a Heeler

[Carl Thunberg]

You're in that learning curve with the CD25. I made the same mistake by carrying too much sail with my former CD25, with similar results, when I started. It takes practice, but you will master the weather helm. The boat will balance with only moderate weather helm. You now know what not to do. Any day you learn something is a good day!

[David Morton]

I agree. Too much sail is probably one of the most common trim errors new Cape Dory owners make in their first season. I am guilty as the next. What's more, my first CD 25D came with a 150 jenny that made it really too easy to lay out too much dacron! I agree with all that's been said about a reef in the main. As Peter suggested above, I would also add that it seemed to me that anything more than a working jib will also contribute to weather helm and heel on both my CD 25d and my CD 31, making a roller furler very useful to pull that clew back to the upper shroud when the wind pipes up.
Nobody gets extra points for hanging out too much sail, and a rail in the water is fun sometimes... sometimes not so much! Reef often, and early.

David

[hinmo]

Thanks - I get the message loud and clear. I am going to try and roll my main tonite, as it was designed (see original post), and if that doesn't work, I will jury-rig a jeefy reef (noting I don't have ALL the hardware, but do have grommets and cringles)

Thanks all

[tjr818]

If you have reef grommets at the tack and at the clew you only need to add line, you do not "need" any other hardware to jiffy reef. Later you will learn what hardware you might want to add. As for the reef cringles, they have fallen out of favor. Just secure the tack and the clew and let the sail hang.
Best of luck, it sounds like fun,

[hinmo]

Thanks Tim...agree with the jiffy reef method.

....got waylaid on a powerboat last night, will try again for tonite.
Thanks

[hinmo]

ps - whats the diff between a cringle and a grommet? My sail has has metal "holes" to pass the clew and tack lines thru and secure...?

[Neil Gordon]

ps - whats the diff between a cringle and a grommet? My sail has has metal "holes" to pass the clew and tack lines thru and secure...?

Definition of cringle: "a loop or grommet at the corner of a sail to which a line is attached."
Grommet: "A reinforced eyelet, or a small metal or plastic ring used to reinforce an eyelet."