To Furl or Not to Furl & One Reefing Point vs. Two

[MHBsailor]

I am contemplating having new sails made for my newly arrived CD22D since the old ones are like bedsheets and am considering a full-batten mainsail with two reefing points - so I may be able to get away with a 100% headsail, or would it be better to have a 130% or 135% on a roller furler? Typical summer breezes in my area are 11-12 kts building to 13-15 kts in the afternoon, though sometimes getting up to 18-20 kts (my practical upper "comfort" limit for recreational sailing). I ask because last year while sailing my TY Senior, which only has one mainsail reef, I found myself furling the 130% back to around 100% (after the first and only mainsail reef was taken) and still seemed a bit over canvassed at times when the wind was above 15 kts.

I had an interesting in-person discussion with a fellow board member over the weekend who opined that C.A.'s design intent may have been for the smaller CD's to use a 100% headsail, as all of the schematic drawings and brochures featured hanked-on 100% headsails (or close to it). There are two reasons for this theory: (1) With a 100% headsail the skipper would simply take one or two reefs in the main instead of furling in a larger headsail and (2) The sheeting angle is more favorable when the jibsheet is lead through the bullseye on the port or starboard side deck with the 100% thus enabling better pointing that a sheet from a furled larger headsail that is lead through a spring block on the T-Track which positions the jibsheet further outboard. Of course an alternate theory is that furler technology wasn't as mature and reliable in the 1980s as in more recent times.


My question ultimately goes to how best balance the sail plan on a smaller Cape Dory as the wind increases from 10 kts to 20 kts? The general advice on this board seems to be to reef the mainsail and then furl the headsail but I'm not sure if that holds true when the mainsail has two reefing points, or if some other permutation would be better to maintain a balanced helm (e.g., take first reef in mainsail, furl headsail to 120%, 110% or 100%) and only then take the second reef OR take the first mainsail reef and then the second mainsail reef BEFORE starting to furl the headsail?) since I don't have any experience with a mainsail with two reefs in a CD22 or TY Senior. Thanks as always for your expert responses

[Mbigos]

I don't think there is a correct answer. it is important to have the skills to reef at the mooring or underway.

I follow the expression "when you think it might be time to reef, it IS time to reef."

Weather forecasts are excellent nowadays. I use weather.gov and sailflow. Click through to the hourly wind velocity and direction charts. you can really predict the wind 95% of the time very accurately. From there you can plan your reefing - at the mooring or underway.

Practically, for many, that means one reef above 15 kts, two reefs above 19 kts, and head home above 25 kts. Of course downwind full sail at 22 kts is very different from upwind, reefed down at the same velocity.

[wikakaru]

The boat will answer the question for you. You want to reef in such a way that you keep the boat well-balanced, with a slight weather helm. If you have too much weather helm, reef the mainsail; if you have too little, reef the genoa. It will likely depend on the age, shape, and condition of your sails at least as much as it does on boat design.

[Keith]

Ditto on the condition of the sails.

I got a new Yankee 2 yrs ago and it changed the way I reef. This year I got a new loose footed main and again it changed the way I reef. As stated earlier in the thread your boat will tell you when and how to reef. If only you will listen!!!

Keith

[s2sailorlis]

I own a 1984 22 as well, here in Connecticut on Long Island Sound The conditions are similar, although summertime it’s more like 7-10 normally.

I have a 130 jib, like you anything north of 12 knots I put in the reef and furl the 130 to about 100. At anything under 14-15 that’s that works. You’ll find the 22 has quite a bit of weather helm. I’ve sailed on a typhoon and it doesn’t have the weather helm that the 22 has. So be prepared for that. I think the weather helm issue is just a function of the mast placement - that really puts the CoE a bit behind where it needs to be.

The sheeting angles are def a challenge with this boat. I have a hanked on 100 lying around, was thinking of having sailmaker put some puff tape on so I can try it. I suspect it may sail better. I’d try furling the 130 to 100 but I don’t think the shape will be great, despite the luff padding installed.

[fmueller]

If you can swing it get a windy season 100 and a dog days 130 both on roller reefing ...

Hard to explain how well behaved my boat is in real wind with the 100 percent sheeted thru the oem positioned block tracks on the coach roof. The most surprising thing is the reduction in weather helm which runs contrary to what folks say (main bigger than jib = WH). I think twist and traveler car position help much more and if you have a jib that actually allows sheeting the boom on centerline but relaxed (car to windward) your weather-helm will be reasonable. Boom on centerline with any jib that trims outside the stays is over-trimmed compared to the jib. There’s your weather helm.

Was out again yesterday and the Narragansett southerly was particularly strong at the top of the bay, 18-20 true, but it was a great afternoon ...

Cheers.