Mainsail

[Killick69]

As a newbie I need to ask some questions of the more experienced members.I do not have a boom cover on my boat.
There are reefing eyes for 2 reefing points on the mainsail. I have been looking at how to arrange reefing lines and have concluded that they can't stay in place if the sail is going to sleep in the cabin tucked into a bag. I am thinking of simply tying the sail down at the chosen reefing option of 1 or 2, using two short lengths of rope before leaving the mooring if the wind is blowing big/threatening to blow big. If the forecast and evidence on the day is for low winds, leave with an unreefed sail. If wary, go to the hassle of running one or both reefing lines through sail and through blocks etc so that reefing can be done if needed. The biggest hassle is running the lines through sail, blocks etc and having to take everything off at the end of the day.
Comments and suggestions please
John

[storm petrel]

Most people nowadays leave the main on the boom with the reefing lines in. You just need to buy or make a sail cover. it is a lot easier to simply cover the sail when you get back to the mooring then bending it on and off each sail

[Dolphin]

G'Day John Here are some drawings from the 1982 Top Hat Brochure.

I hope it helps. Remember to always only tie the reef points around the foot of the sail NOT AROUND THE BOOM ! If you tie it around the boom and the reef slips it will tear the guts out of the sail.
I had the same problem when I was waiting for a new boom cover. I had it done by a car upholsterer.
BTW its the stitching that fails in the UV not the material.

Tie the clew, the outer part of foot of the sail using a Timber hitch, it is easy to undo and wont jam. Careful how you tie it. On Felicite I have a hook on the goose neck to take the tack.

There should be several people at the sail away that can show you.

Hope it helps.

[Miker]

I have a dual reefing system, with permanent lines running back down the boom to he mast, through blocks back the cleats on the cabin top.

In the photo below, you will see two lines, two reefing cringles (holes) on the leech and two on the luff.
I've only ever reefer a few times, and never worried about the ties in the middle of the sail.



As for the sail cover, my lazy jack bag system was only a few dollars more than the old lay over cover. Makes it easy to raise and especially lower the main.

Hopefully you'll see it in person on Saturday.

[storm petrel]

I am amazed you have not had to reef much Michael. You must choose your sailing days carefully. Storm Petrel is often reefed. I find the boat a real handful with full main at 20 knots and above and I really need the second reef to balance the boat when it is over 25 knots. But I guess almost all my sailing is outside and you may spend a lot of your time in Pittwater and on the Hawkesbury River where it is more sheltered.

[Miker]

I am amazed you have not had to reef much Michael. You must choose your sailing days carefully. Storm Petrel is often reefed. I find the boat a real handful with full main at 20 knots and above and I really need the second reef to balance the boat when it is over 25 knots. But I guess almost all my sailing is outside and you may spend a lot of your time in Pittwater and on the Hawkesbury River where it is more sheltered.

Mark, sometimes in a bigger wind I won't raise the main at all, just go under a #2 and sometimes partially furl that. We do go outside, but not as often as you. Gabi is really a fair weather sailor. On my Lake Mac trip I had both up until dawn, then furled the #2 and went under a main only, did the trip in less than 8 hours in about 20 -25 knots, reasonably well balanced, but on a very broad reach. If I had to go to Windward I would have reefed the main and left the head where it was. I just don't like messing about on the cabin roof when I'm on my own outside, even though I'm clipped on.

Sail condition, shape and age also have a lot to do with it. My main is quite old and very out of shape, so may not need reefing as soon as a good quality new sail.

[KJD13]

Hi, on my Mark 111, I have two reefing points on the main, with the rams horn on the mast. My problem is that to get the second reef, I have to remove the locking pin from the groove in the mast in order to get the sail down low enough to engage the rams horn. As you can imagine, if the weather was building, this is not something that you would want to do for fear of dropping the locking pin. Hence, this necessitates early reefing or avoiding conditions that would warrant the second reef.
Does anyone else have this problem with the second reef on the mast?
Kevin
Wayward Lady

[Miker]

Hi, on my Mark 111, I have two reefing points on the main, with the rams horn on the mast. My problem is that to get the second reef, I have to remove the locking pin from the groove in the mast in order to get the sail down low enough to engage the rams horn. As you can imagine, if the weather was building, this is not something that you would want to do for fear of dropping the locking pin. Hence, this necessitates early reefing or avoiding conditions that would warrant the second reef.
Does anyone else have this problem with the second reef on the mast?
Kevin
Wayward Lady

Kevin, In my desctiption above, I have lines that go from the back end of the boom, where they are fixed, up through the reefing cringle, back down to the boom, then through a block to the front of the boom, through another block, up the luff to the reefing cringle, then back down the mast to yet another block, which leads the lines back to the rear of the coach roof and a cleat. There is a line for each of the first and second reefs. Pretty much as Greg's drawings show above.

To reef, you head to wind, clip on the topping lift, let go the halyard by about a metre, then pull down the reefing line until the reefing points are at the boom. Once the reefing line is cleated off, you haul the halyard back up to re-tension the luff and away you go.

To shake out the reef, all you do is head to wind, let go the reefing line and haul the main halyard up to full height again.

The previous owner told me this system was called a Swedish Reefing set up, but for the life of me I can't find a reference, so it might be something I dreamt. Lookng at it, it's really easy to set up and would make it much easier that he rams horn by the sound of it.

[Dolphin]

Mike the system, is called "Jiffy Reefing". I don't know if you will find a reference to it. you should its common.
Kevin, I have the same system as you, horns on the goose neck. THe more you do it the more you will get used to it and yes reef early. The locking pin should be tied on with something or an "R" pin used on the track in the mast with a lanyard on it.

If you are worried wear a harness. One hand for the ship, and one for yourself.

[Shaun]

My problem is that to get the second reef, I have to remove the locking pin from the groove in the mast in order to get the sail down low enough to engage the rams horn. ....Does anyone else have this problem with the second reef on the mast?
Kevin
Wayward Lady

How do you solve the above problem?
With Jiffy reefing, does the tack on the second reef get low enough to allow to avoid the need to remove the pin?
Im just imagining the slugs falling out of the track if the sail is lowered too much, without the pin??
you probably need a special track or attachment to go where you feed in the sail??

ps, it is not applicable at all on my rig, but useful to know if I crew on bermudan rigs, ive forgotten alot about bermudan rigs already

cheers