Reefing Main: Weekender

[Sean Dooley]

Does anyone use reefing points on their mains? All advice appreciated.

Thanks.



dooley@marmed.com

[Brent Musolf]

Sean,

I ususally set a reef around 20 knots with a working jib. If I'm feeling real crqzythat day I'll set a reef and then fly my spinnaker.
The reef keeps her from sailing on her ear and eases the weather helm.

Fair Winds

Brent

[George Sisemore]

Does anyone use reefing points on their mains? All advice appreciated.

Thanks.

Sean: I started out with the roller reefing and decided to go with a single set of reefing points on a new main. I rigged a simple "jiffy reefing" and a topping lift that has works well for my for me. I can now reef without trying to hold her directly into the wind and it takes no more than a minute to have her reefed and the same time to shake it out. I practiced by reefing at the mooring and then when the breeze picked up.

George



newfolks@home.com

[Bob B]

I sailed a CD 27 that had three sets of reef points and have been sailing the Weekender with roller reefing. I just returned yesterday from the sailmaker's where we decided on two reef points, one about a fourth to a third and the other a little less than half the sail area. To put these in costs about 55 dollars each. I sail year round in the Weekender and needed the better sail shape that the reef points will provide. I also teach sailing and this gives my students one more skill to master on a smaller, more responsive boat.
I will let you know how it turns out.
Bob B.

[cyrus jordan]

I have two reefs in the main. I have a cheek block and a cleat on each side of the boom for the two aft points and a cleat on the mast for the two fore points. The bitter ends of all the lines are are just tied to the boom.

Works ok except:

1) I still have the original roller furling gooseneck so the mast likes to twist on me when I don't want it too. (I'm planning on riveting it so that it can't roll anymore.) Roller furling was a bad idea, that I don't intend to revisit.

2) The gooseneck is adjustable so it likes to fall when I lower the mainsail halyard to reef. I've been using my knee, but think I will put some sort of stop in the sailguide slide this year to limit how far it can fall. It will have to be able to fall some or my downhaul won't work. Another option would be to fix the gooseneck to the mast and use a cunningham, but this sounds a bit drastic.

Another thing that I will probably do this year is attach a reefing hook to the gooseneck and do away with the fore reefing lines that I now cleat to the mast. Less things to keep track of; I tend to reef late which makes the process a bit trying at times.

If you rig it simply like I did, you not talking very much $ to try it. Works much better than the roller furling method.

cy



cjordan@together.net

[Paul Scribner]

I have two reefs in the main. I have a cheek block and a cleat on each side of the boom for the two aft points and a cleat on the mast for the two fore points. The bitter ends of all the lines are are just tied to the boom.

Works ok except:

1) I still have the original roller furling gooseneck so the mast likes to twist on me when I don't want it too. (I'm planning on riveting it so that it can't roll anymore.) Roller furling was a bad idea, that I don't intend to revisit.

2) The gooseneck is adjustable so it likes to fall when I lower the mainsail halyard to reef. I've been using my knee, but think I will put some sort of stop in the sailguide slide this year to limit how far it can fall. It will have to be able to fall some or my downhaul won't work. Another option would be to fix the gooseneck to the mast and use a cunningham, but this sounds a bit drastic.

Another thing that I will probably do this year is attach a reefing hook to the gooseneck and do away with the fore reefing lines that I now cleat to the mast. Less things to keep track of; I tend to reef late which makes the process a bit trying at times.

If you rig it simply like I did, you not talking very much $ to try it. Works much better than the roller furling method.

cy

Cy: I put a ss reefing hook on my goosneck two years ago. Works fine, simply drop main for a second, hook and pull reefings lines taut and rehaul main halyard. Quick -efficient.
Paul Scribner
s/v Serenitas
CD 28 1978 Hull #205



scribner@channel1.com

[Dan Morton]

I sailed a CD 27 that had three sets of reef points and have been sailing the Weekender with roller reefing. I just returned yesterday from the sailmaker's where we decided on two reef points, one about a fourth to a third and the other a little less than half the sail area. To put these in costs about 55 dollars each. I sail year round in the Weekender and needed the better sail shape that the reef points will provide. I also teach sailing and this gives my students one more skill to master on a smaller, more responsive boat.
I will let you know how it turns out.
Bob B.

I am getting a new main and was about to order just one set of reef points. How often to you go to a second set? When do you move to the second set? do you find that the two sets of reef points is too busy from an aesthetic standpoint?



danandamy@msn.com