Reefing CS17

[Peter HK]

Over the years on the forum there has been a lot of discussion about ways to reef

[Tom Lathrop]

Hey that went well.  You should do a full explanation with diagrams.

[Peter HK]

Well I certainly will give it a try.

Firstly, I wasn

[Tom Lathrop]

Looks very workable to me Peter.  Thanks.  

Do you have it rigged at all times or just on the days when you think it might be needed?

[Peter HK]

Do you have it rigged at all times or just on the days when you think it might be needed?

Basically I rig it every time. The reefing tackline just involves hooking the stainless hook into the reef point when you are also hooking in the tack downhaul- only takes a second more. These lines are permanently run through the blocks and cleats.

The reefing line at the clew is likewise always rigged on the boom and so just needs to be clipped onto the sails at the first reef- again only seconds. I use a snap hook on the topping lifts also for speed in rigging/ unrigging.

The reefing system as a whole wouldn't add 30 seconds to rigging time.

What does make a difference is unfolding sails/putting the slugs into the tracks/ fitting the top full length batten...probably adds 5 minutes compared to rolling battenless sails around the mast.

I am planning to try removing battens (I have quick release pockets) and rolling the sails and see if that is quicker.

Cheers

Peter HK

[Joe Nelson CS#35]

I pretty much have a handle on your reefing system. I assume this system will work for one reef point? I've got two. This looks great!

Joe

[Peter HK]

I pretty much have a handle on your reefing system. I assume this system will work for one reef point? I've got two. This looks great!

Joe

Hi Joe

I also have 2 reef points. It's quite possible to have a permanently run second reef as I did with my cruising catamaran some years ago but I decided that would be over the top for a mostly day sailing 17 footer- too many lines to attach and rig each time. My plan for a second reef in the mainsail is to heave to with the mizzen tight and helm central in the tiller tamer and drop the single reefed main completely. I would then sit up on the foredeck, shift the reefing tackline to the second reef, get back in the cockpit and shift the reefing clew line to the second reef (has a snap shackle to allow easy transfer)and rehoist the double reefed main to an appropriate height, tension downhaul and clew lines, put in the reefing ties and then go to the mizzen.

Cheers

Peter HK

[Joe Nelson CS#35]

I've got the wooden sprits. Might still be able to figure a way to do it. The biggest challenge is trying to get the end of the sprit into the loop on the clew when it's blowing. I like your solution. No need to stab the end.

[Peter HK]

I've got the wooden sprits. Might still be able to figure a way to do it. The biggest challenge is trying to get the end of the sprit into the loop on the clew when it's blowing. I like your solution. No need to stab the end.

Shouldn't be too hard- run the line along the sprit with a few fairleads. The loop around the boom may not slide so well... you can always have a couple of predetermined attachment points for the clew reefing line instead and ease and retension the snotter when you reef.

Cheers

Peter HK