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Reefing the 250

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britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/26/2011 : 14:11:55

Since we purchased JD in 2005, I have reluctantly reefed, always happy to push the boat along at the best speed. However, the Admiral's discomfort with the boat heeled, we have been reefing more often.

This weekend we were on Biscayne Bay, the winds in the low teens, great sailing weather. Our main was at the first reef and the jib furled in to about 50% (difficult to be specific.)

We were hitting the mid 5 knots most of the time, even hit 6.2kts a few times. As Peggy said: "So? What did we do that allowed us to sail so much better'.

Most of the time I was adjusting the main so that the heel was minimal, Yet we still sailed well.

So my reluctance to reef has totally diminished and I'm happy to reef down if the wind pipes up over 11knots.

My biggest issue is overcoming the whimpy feeling!

Paul

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

Edited by - on

booyacht
1st Mate

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53 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2011 : 14:27:37

lol
Sounds like you've become an expert Captain! ;)

Edited by - on

willy
Captain

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422 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2011 : 18:57:14

Paul,
I so understand that reluctance to reef...I used to be that way. What I have found is that your speed over ground will usually increase when reefed in 15 knot winds. Our boats are pretty much overpowered...something I really appreciate when I only have 4 knots of wind...but with full sails in higher winds you end up scalloping (is that a word?) across the water rather than travelling a straight line! Don't have a wimpy feeling...have a SMART one!
Willy

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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3704 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2011 : 19:14:28

Flatter is faster.

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2011 : 20:25:06

I've done the same experiment, and saw our speeds go up after reefing when winds were at around 15 knots. My hypothesis is that the bottom of this boat is relatively flat and it is beamy amidships. When heeled anything over 15 degrees, the hull is "digging in" and slowing the boat down. And you're fighting the weather helm with the rudder, which creates drag.

It just sails better when reefed, and at much less wind speed than you would expect.

This season I plan to rig a second reef. The sail is designed for it, but I need to add the needed blocks and mast gate.

By the way, I splash tomorrow morning. I've worked all day the last several days to get ready.

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

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909 Posts

Response Posted - 04/27/2011 : 00:15:34

Paul, I usually start out with a double reef and no more than 50% of the Genoa unfurled. My Doyle Genoa has percentage marks on it to indicate how far out is unfurled. I had a few non-sailors with me at times last year and this setup worked best until there "pucker factor" was known. Any heel up to 5 degrees they liked, I prefer mo more than 10 degrees of heel myself. Ice went out a week and half ago
so launch date is approaching.

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britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/27/2011 : 03:43:43

Thanks guys.
Wayne, any suggestions on marking the jib % ?

We have 110% and 150% jibs. Someone smart will chime in with the math I'm sure. But I'm certain it's not just 50% of the sail foot = 50% of the sail out.

But then, it's not the % out, it's the performance. So I guess we should just experiment and then mark the sail where it matches the main when reefed.

Paul

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bear
Admiral

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909 Posts

Response Posted - 04/27/2011 : 04:35:15

Paul, The jib has a blue vertical line which appears to me to be 50% of total sail area. As you know it's all a trim issue. My suggestion
would be to mark the furler line with black tape, one piece for your 110 and another for your 150. Use those as starter points. I do the same with my centerboard uphaul line, black tape on the uphaul indicates the centerboard is up and kicked back some, using the pulley system as a reference. Centerboard stays there the whole sailing year. I've not seen the jib since last September [packed away] till next week, so bear with me on this.

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mikesuej
Navigator

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USA
119 Posts

Response Posted - 04/27/2011 : 17:06:24

This season I plan to rig a second reef. The sail is designed for it, but I need to add the needed blocks and mast gate.

[/quote]

I'm sorry for the stupid question, but I have two reefs in my tall rig man - never used the second yet, but you say you have to add another mast gate? What do you mean? I have slugs, they feed up through what I think is the mastgate amnd then there is a mast slot stop to keep the slugs from pouring out when I reef. Can you help me understand? Thanks, MJ

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John Russell
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3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/27/2011 : 17:21:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 Thanks guys.
Wayne, any suggestions on marking the jib % ?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I didn't mark the jib, I marked the furling line with an inch wide black mark I made with a Sharpie. If I know I'm going to not want all of the 135%, I tie off the furling line at that point before I unfurl the sail. I guesstimated my mark to be about 2/3rds of the genoa unfurled.

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/27/2011 : 18:40:05

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by mikesuej
 

I'm sorry for the stupid question, but I have two reefs in my tall rig man - never used the second yet, but you say you have to add another mast gate? What do you mean? I have slugs, they feed up through what I think is the mastgate amnd then there is a mast slot stop to keep the slugs from pouring out when I reef. Can you help me understand? Thanks, MJ
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
The sail stop prevents the slugs from dropping to the boom, which interferes with proper reefing. The bottom slug is on a jack line, which overcomes this problem for the 1st reef. For the 2nd reef you either need to have a sailmaker put 1 or 2 more slugs on jack lines, or replace the sail stop with a mast gate which allows the slugs to fall all the way down without falling out the slot.

The mast gates are sold by CD in pairs, but you only need one for the C250. I'll be selling the other one, but not ready to do it yet.

More info on mast gates in this thread:

http://catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=21833

Edited by - TakeFive on 04/27/2011 19:58:56

vholmstrom
1st Mate

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51 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2011 : 11:46:06

The mast gates are sold by CD in pairs, but you only need one for the C250.

-----------------------------------

My C250 is a 2011 model with a double slot for the sail slugs, so it required BOTH sides of the mast gate be installed. I only have to remove one side of the mastgate to install or remove the mainsail.

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