Small Jib

[mkaplan]

In addition to the reasons you listed, I didn't want the jib to rub or hang up on the shrouds when I tacked so I had my hank-on working jib cut down to about an 80%. For winds under 5 knots I carry a light weight cruising spinnaker. I've used this combination for about a year, sailing Lake Michigan last summer, Florida west coast (Tarpon Springs to Marathon) this month and remainder on Lake Lanier near Atlanta. I'm a cruiser, not a racer and I've been happy with the results. Can sail in winds 5 - 25 knots with same foresail, I just reef the main. Sails are a little unbalanced in light winds with full main, no problem, but as wind increases and mainsail is reefed, sails become balanced. Am able to use windvane in all conditions.

[casampson]

Talked with another local loft today who advised against a reef in the jib because it is likely to cause the bottom of the sail to get torn up. Instead, this particular loft recommended a second set of reef points in the main (I have one). We agreed that a jib downhaul would be an excellent solution in my situation.

Thanks to everyone for their very helpful advice and comments.

[John Stone]

Talked with another local loft today who advised against a reef in the jib because it is likely to cause the bottom of the sail to get torn up. Instead, this particular loft recommended a second set of reef points in the main (I have one).

I don’t understand their position at all. What does that mean the sail will get “torn up?” Sailors have been using reefing headsails for hundreds of years. Even today British pilots cutters and other working sail craft still use them. Moitessier and Knox Johnston used them singlehanding around the world as did nearly all the voyagers of their day. The Pardey’s sailed 10,000 lb Serrafyn around the world east about with reefing headsails. As mentioned my stays’l has two reefs and the tack is at the stem of the boat not a couple feet aft of the stem like many CDs. It has worked flawlessly in some terrible wx.

A lot of today’s sailmakers only know furling headsails. That’s their go to response. I have heard the same thing. I have friends who have circumnavigated and made many ocean crossings with reefing headsails. I’m not suggesting someone avoid a furler. No question they are convenient and for some folks probably safer. But to say a reefing headsail will get “torn up” especially on smaller boats and coastal sailing is just plain wrong. For reefing headsails to work correctly though, the sailmaker has to actually know what they are doing.

Anyway, I’m not ranting just a little annoyed that a sailmaker would say something like that. I’d rather he or she simply say, “ya know, I don’t have much experience with using or making a reefing headsail so I really can’t advise you on it.” If there is more to their response than I am unaware of I’m interested to hear more about their thinking.

Built, installed, and employed correctly it’s a very seaman like option. Not for everyone or even most people but certainly totally and completely viable.

[casampson]

Thanks for the reply, John. Sorry to have made your blood pressure go up. At the time, the sailmaker's response to my query seemed reasonable, but, now that I have reflected on the points you made in your post, I realize that he may have been doing me a disservice. So my plan now is to go to another loft and get the job done. I have no intention of installing a roller furling jib, and I think a reef will add a lot of flexibility on windy days.

Thanks again.

Chris

[John Stone]

Thanks for the reply, John. Sorry to have made your blood pressure go up. At the time, the sailmaker's response to my query seemed reasonable, but, now that I have reflected on the points you made in your post, I realize that he may have been doing me a disservice. So my plan now is to go to another loft and get the job done. I have no intention of installing a roller furling jib, and I think a reef will add a lot of flexibility on windy days.

Thanks again.

Chris

No worries. I’m all better now. LOL.

Make sure they build it so the points are angled up enough that the sheet leads remain the same and don’t need to be moved. Or perhaps they can incorporate a short pendant which would raise the bunt of the reefed sail a bit. It should be built by a sailmaker that has experience with reefing headsails and supports your goals. They should be happy to talk through the options with you.