Reefing while underway

[csoule13]

Tim said roughly what I was going to chime in. As a former private pilot, "cruising", i.e. going from Point A to Point B was a much easier skillset with much less chance of task saturation. Flying in the pattern involved a constant change in what was going on or about to go on.

Since we comparing flying and sailing, another thing I did when cut loose to fly solo was to always have a set of tasks to work on so you weren't just buzzing cows(though practicing turns around a point using cows was approved). I have shockingly little experience compared to most regulars on the board. For instance, I have yet to take my boat out solo, but even with only one crew member, if we aren't Going Someplace, we set a goal. Work on setting a preventer, work on sailing a certain point of sail, etc. You can do a ton of things in a short amount of time.

Lastly, and I've given this advise previously - in flight training, there is a concept of chair flying. The idea is to go through all of the steps of a task at home sitting in a chair as you would in the airplane. Mimic reaching out to wiggle knobs, etc. etc. The idea is to drill it into your muscle memory and grey matter in an environment that is bouncing along in the air. Same for tasks on the boat. Work through heaving-to in your head and really see it. Ditto reefing. Shaking out a reef. Practice in an environment where you aren't getting tossed around in chop getting scared to death.

Chris

[casampson]

I agree that the take-off and landing aspect of sailing is most important and that what lies between is often constant, so that it might not matter if one is daysailing or cruising. However, my point was only that if one is cruising for days and weeks on end -- rather than for a few hours at a time -- then there would seem to be more likelihood of encountering different types of weather and sea conditions, requiring more adjustments and maneuvers and leading, eventually to more experience. I, for example, have never really encountered a sudden squall while daysailing, but I'll bet that many of our cruising Cape Dory friends have.

As for the kind words of Dick K., I am amazed that you could sail all the way up the Weweantic to the Route 6 bridge, as you described. I used to live along the Weweantic and take walks where I could see its twists and turns, and I was always amazed at the number of exposed rocks there were at low tide -- especially at a spot known as Bass Point. You must have gone through at high tide, but even then it would have required great care and skill.

I think that soon I will try to sail from Marion west to Mattapoisett Harbor and spend a night there. I'm not ready to anchor yet, but I'm sure the harbormaster has a few moorings that could be picked up for a reasonable fee. Dinner at the Mattapoisett Inn would be in order. I'd like to eventually make it up to Padanaram, because my wife and I enjoy the Sail Loft very much. Great calamari and very good beer. Last year we did make it to Red Brook Harbor for an overnight with my two eight-year old grandchildren, and we enjoyed it very much. It was a Cape Dory rendezvous, in fact. Being able to spend nights on board was the reason I traded in my Typhoon for a CD 25 in the first place, so I am looking forward to giving it another try -- this time without the kids, as they really didn't like it very much (unfortunately).

Thanks again to everyone who has contributed here. This has been a surprisingly successful thread containing some great information, and I have appreciated it very much.

[Neil Gordon]

>> I'm not ready to anchor yet, ...<<

Anchoring is another one of those safety skills you might practice. Sometimes there's no other way to stop your boat from going where it shouldn't be.

(In 1971, USS NEWPORT NEWS, a heavy cruiser was going down river on the Mississippi after a fun time in New Orleans. At an s-curve in the river, we found ourselves on a collision course with a ship that had missed the turn, put its bow up on the mud and was otherwise sticking straight out into the river. We avoided the other ship, but I remember the Captain's order well: "RIGHT FULL RUDDER [in the Mississippi River!] - STAND BY TO LET GO BOTH ANCHORS." YIKES!!!)

[casampson]

Good advice. Anchoring is now on my list of things to practice. Hadn't thought of doing it before, but you are absolutely right. First I'll get one of those books that John Stone recommended so that I can learn how to do it properly, although I think I have a good idea.

[JD-MDR]

OK I got the ear rings on. Getting used to the Speedy Stitch. The sailrite video makes it look so easy I only stabbed myself once. Maybe I should have used red color webbing. The second one looks a little better. I have a question about anchoring. Is there a easier way to grab the rode and pull it around and thru the chock to the cleat. Sometimes I hang way out on the bowsprit. Sometimes I motor forward (easier) but in crowded areas I dont like being in gear and fumbling around at the bow. I know if I had all chain I could snap a piece to the chain and tie it off???

[Neil Gordon]

>>I have a question about anchoring. Is there a easier way to grab the rode and pull it around and thru the chock to the cleat. <<

Rather than reach forward, take your slack from what's on the foredeck. Lead it forward around the pulpit, through the chock, and back to the cleat.

If there's tension on the rode, cleat it off and do the same with what's behind the cleat. Then pull in enough rode to give you a bit of slack and take the line off the first cleat.

If there's too much tension in the rode for that, tie a short length of line onto the rode with a rolling hitch and secure that to a cleat so that you can safely take the line off the cleat. If there's too much tension to release the temporary, just cut it.

[JD-MDR]

Hi Neil. That’s what I do but with a windlass and roller on a the sprit I have to pull enough slack out to cleat it then pull about 3 more fathoms to go out and thru the roller and back thru the chock and cleat then I let the first one go Its a big hassle especially in the wind and usually the jib is also in the way. I’m thinking of getting a 24” loop of that kinda chain,might be called “roller ” chain. I could take a couple wraps around the anchor rode an shackle that Something like you said with the rolling hitch.

[casampson]

This thread has run its course, but I just wanted to note that I have practiced both heaving to and reefing, and they couldn't be simpler. I reefed while on the mooring and haven't actually done it under real conditions at sea, but I plan to practice that next. Heaving to is a delight, and I'm sorry I haven't done it before. I can envision many peaceful lunches while hove to in the future.

[casampson]

Today we were hove to on a port tack, eating lunch, when a gust of wind and a large wave combined to "pop" us into a starboard tack and we started to sail. This surprised me. Any thoughts out there? Could my main have been hauled in too tight?

Thanks.

[John Stone]

Today we were hove to on a port tack, eating lunch, when a gust of wind and a large wave combined to "pop" us into a starboard tack and we started to sail. This surprised me. Any thoughts out there? Could my main have been hauled in too tight?

Thanks.

Sure. Probably. If you were moving forward at all you were not technically hove-to. You were fore reaching. If you’re forereaching, there is water moving across the rudder and with the helm lashed to leeward the boat will try to steer up into the wind in a puff and try to tack. You want to be about 50° to the wind when you heave to but each boat has its own peculiarly needs. Sometimes, some boats, need to have the stays’l backed to keep the bow from coming up into the wind. So try easing the main out some more and find the sweet spot for lashing the helm. I also like to use 1/2” shock cord on the tiller—both sides.

The Pardey’s described heaving to for many different kinds of boats in their excellent book “Storm Tactics.”

[JD-MDR]

Got the reef system figured out. Not spending much, just making do with whats on the boat or at the consignment store. Once I decide Its good I do it nicer I put cheek blocks and cleats , ear rings and a snap shackle. I like the shackle idea so I don't have the strap hanging around my mast. So I thought I was just gonna grease up the throttle control but. I don't think So. I'm gonna order the replacement from Defender. It's the Teleflex model CH2100P . It looks so plasticky. I wish I could get the same chrome one like I had. In the second photo I see a mess of lines and hardware around the mainsheet and boom bale. . I'm not sure what is all there I was working on a boom preventer and had temporarily put it on that bale. I will get the new bale which will go forward more today. I wonder what to plug all the old screw holes n the mast and boom with?

[John Stone]

John
Some observations. As you continue to refine the reefing system I think you will be better served if the “earring” (webbing strap/ring) is shorter. The webbing and ring part should be about half that long. Also eliminate one of the two stacked snap hooks. You want the tack cringle on the mains’l to be as close to the goose-neck as possible. Making that adjustment will eliminate a lot of lose bunt at the foot of the sail and help if set better. It may also reduce some stress on the sail.

On the clew: those sure looks like very light weight cheek blocks. I suspect the boom, if it's a Rig Rite, has a substantial side wall...so that’s good. And, the fasteners are “in shear” so that's good too. But they look small. The system looks undersized to me.

I’m not suggesting it won’t work...don’t know. But were it me I’d want those components to be as robust as possible. There are tremendous loads on the sails and rig as the wind increases. During a gyb, especially if it gets away from you, there could be high shock-loads exerted on the clew and its supporting hardware. Nothing too strong ever broke.

[JD-MDR]

Thanks John. Good thing I didn't buy anything yet except the earring straps, that's cheap and Maybe I can make the next ones better with no blood stains. Can you recommend what cheek blocks to get. Please, if you have time. I see some 2250# rated and some 1000# and some with flat base etc.There are so many. This is why I like to hire experts. Evan though I have to work 2 or 3 hours for every one of theirs. Fortunately I can still work and I am getting plenty of it. It's unbelievable how much disposable money is available when you don't drink or use drugs and double that if you are celibate. Thankfully I'm old enough that doesn't matter any more. Too much information probably.

[John Stone]

Thanks John. Good thing I didn't buy anything yet except the earring straps, that's cheap and Maybe I can make the next ones better with no blood stains. Can you recommend what cheek blocks to get. Please, if you have time. I see some 2250# rated and some 1000# and some with flat base etc.There are so many. This is why I like to hire experts. Evan though I have to work 2 or 3 hours for every one of theirs. Fortunately I can still work and I am getting plenty of it. It's unbelievable how much disposable money is available when you don't drink or use drugs and double that if you are celibate. Thankfully I'm old enough that doesn't matter any more. Too much information probably.

We all waste money on stuff that does little to nothing for us. It’s just the nature of a consumer driven culture. So you’re in good company.

Anyway, I will check my box of hardware and see what I have. I sold the boom that came with the Far Reach for $100 including all the attached hardware and gooseneck to someone that needed a break. Then she went and sold her boat. But I might have some cheek-block hardware left that will shed some light on the right hardware. Give me a couple days.

Oh, and BTW, I like the bloody webbing. It makes you a blood brother to your boat. A noble thing in my opinion.

[JD-MDR]

Maybe i should start a new topic. I will work on the running rigging little by little. I showed the photo of my throttle control. I been thru this boat and can't figure what is going to be next. I mean as an urgent project. I hope I'm getting ahead of it.. One thing I haven't done is pull the rudder. When I bought the boat an took it to the yard . I asked if I should pull the rudder but the yard manager didn't think it was necessary since there were no visual signs that it need anything. I don't have any experience with it so I took his advice. October 16 2016 is when I bought the boat and I gave myself three years to be ready for the pacific cruise. I have two years . one important thing for me is that I want all my credit cards paid off and I want at least $10,000 in the bank. I think I'm on schedule. I modified the spinaker snuffer That I bought from CDSOA member "Frenchy" and tried it out at the dock. It's really gonna be nice. I can't figure out how to move this to a new topic.