I recently received the Core Sound 15/17 photo CD. People appear to be attaching the sails to the masts by way of sleeves, lacing and sail tracks. Additionally, there seem to be a wide variety of rigging arrangements. I'm interested in the arrangement which has the fewest number of lines and blocks, but which still will allow modest reefing. If I build a CS 17, I'll use a low-profile commercial hatch cover instead of the wooden one, and I'll install a pair of grab rails to make it easy to slide over the foredeck and also to act as knee braces. I'd like to avoid, as far as reasonable and possible, running the main halyards back into the cockpit or along the side decks.
Mr. Gordy Hill has used sail sleeves on his boat, yet he still can reef by wrapping the sail on the mast. Is it possible to do the same thing with the laced sails? Any information or guidance would be helpful.
