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Reef with two reef points

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rhys_chard
Deckhand

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USA
3 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/25/2011 : 09:08:23

On my main I have what looks like regular two line reefing setup (based on the owners manual). The main has two sets of grommets with the reefing lines going through the highest set. The previous owner also put sail ties through the top row of grommets, but not the lower ones.

My question is, is it OK to lower the main until the lower set of grommets are at the boom, tie off the to reef lines, and then loosely tie up the slack sail with additional ties. Or do I need to install a set of lower reefing lines in the bottom set of grommets?.

Rhys

"Midlife Crisis"
84 25ft Fin Keel Std Rig
Alameda

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PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2011 : 11:30:47

I would move the reefing lines down to the lower (1st reef) and go without the upper (2nd reef) for a while until you get a feel for your rig. I sail out of Brisbane and up past Bay Bridge to main bay. I have never really used my 2nd reef, but often use the 1st reef as approach the slot. For the two line slab reefing I have hardly every tied off the row of reef points. In SFBay one is reefing and unreefing as passing in and out of the wind lines.

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PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2011 : 11:44:09

If you wanted to keep both 2nd and add a 1st reef, you would have to install two more reefing lines for the tack and clew dedicated for the 1st reef. The easy way out is as I said previously. Just use the present two reefing lines but pass them through the lower cringles at the tack and clew. You won't need any bits of line through the reef points that run parallel to the boom.

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rhys_chard
Deckhand

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USA
3 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2011 : 14:37:23

Great, thanks Paul. I've only had the boat about a month so still trying to figure everything out. I'll move the lines down and see how it goes.

Rhys

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2011 : 15:03:19

You did not say whether your reef lines are led back to the cockpit. If not, and if your main cleats on the mast as mine does, I suggest adding a reef hook to the gooseneck pin. This makes reefing the front of the sail easy, just let off on the halyard enough to put the luff's first reef cringle over the reef hook and recleat the halyard. This leaves your forward reef line available for the 2nd reef position. If your sail has a flattening reef, you might be able to move that line to the first reef cringle on the leech. That would likely be a decision to make at the dock before raising sail, however.
I like PZell's idea more, move the reef lines down ro the 1st reef. With a std rig, when it's time for a 2nd reef, you don't need to be out there.

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rhys_chard
Deckhand

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USA
3 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2011 : 15:22:39

The main halyard is lead back to the cockpit but the reef lines are on the mast and the boom. So if I want to reef I'm going to have to go up the mast anyway. I like the idea of hooks on the goose neck, the boats I took some lessons on had those and it did make reefing easier.

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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2011 : 16:37:46

And never tie in a reef, toss those little lines in the grommets. It is a mystery to me why they are still putting grommets on the sails. They are a legacy of a time when sail cloth and lines could not attain the tension they do today.

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cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2011 : 09:11:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by pastmember
 And never tie in a reef, toss those little lines in the grommets. It is a mystery to me why they are still putting grommets on the sails. They are a legacy of a time when sail cloth and lines could not attain the tension they do today.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Frank, I like being able to bundle up the loose cloth along the foot and keep it out of my way (and field of view) when the sail is reefed (especially after two reefs are tucked in!). However, I do NOT like to spend time tying/untying knots when reefing/unreefing, so I use small 3/16" lines with a plastic hook on one end clipped to small eyestraps on the boom. They each pass through the reef grommets in the sail they are lined up with, and then down to a clam cleat on the boom. I just roll up the extra cloth, run the line down to the clam cleat and I am done! (the ends of the reefing lines are long enough to go up though the grommets with a figure 8 knot so I do not have to try to poke them through the grommets while its bouncy, etc.

I do not sail with the small lines in the sail normally however, just when I anticipate a good chance of needing to reef.

Chuck

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PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2011 : 10:57:20

I say experiment with the ideas here and see how it works out for you. After a while you will like to have those reef lines come back to the cockpit so that the reefing can be done quickly and safely; besides making taut the reef lines at the tack and clew you will need to release the boom vang and haul a bit on the topping lift as you reef. All that better done from the cockpit rather than hanging on with one hand up on the deck and running back and forth from mast to cockpit in blustery weather.

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