underway: head to wind, hove to, or downwind? I was taught, perhaps incorrectly, to reef head to wind-- let the jib drive the boat while the mainsail luffs and drop the halyard. But, a heavy weather video I rented recently said to go downwind which seems pretty risky and a recent forum discussed heaving to as the way to go. My situation is a big main (Hunter Vision 36, free standing rig) with Doyle stackpack to contend with and, outside the Golden Gate. big waves and lots of wind as well. All ideas, suggestions are welcome.
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Reefing downwind is just plain stupid. If it's blowing 20+ and you're going downwind there should be little reason to reef. A true wind of 20 would yeild an aparent wind of around 12 to 15. No need to reef in that wind. Anything heavier becomes difficult at best. Hove to is certainly a solution and makes it very easy. Head to wind works aswel, although the luffing jib is certainly not going to let the jib drive the boat.
Mostly, we heave to
We just tack, without letting the jib sheet go. We end up with the jib back-winded, then loosen the mainsheet, and turn the tiller to leeward and lash it there. (With a wheel, you turn it to windward.) The change is dramatic - everything relaxes and quiets down! Then we can relax, and move around the boat at our liesure to reef the main. We have also reefed with the boat forereaching on the jib at about 45 to 60 degrees off the wind, while the mainsheet is eased enough to luff the sail. This was in the protection of a windward shore, or the boat may not have been stable enough to safely finish the job. David Lady Lillie
We just tack, without letting the jib sheet go. We end up with the jib back-winded, then loosen the mainsheet, and turn the tiller to leeward and lash it there. (With a wheel, you turn it to windward.) The change is dramatic - everything relaxes and quiets down! Then we can relax, and move around the boat at our liesure to reef the main. We have also reefed with the boat forereaching on the jib at about 45 to 60 degrees off the wind, while the mainsheet is eased enough to luff the sail. This was in the protection of a windward shore, or the boat may not have been stable enough to safely finish the job. David Lady Lillie
Downwind reduces apparent wind
the idea of heading downwind, especially in heavier weather, is to reduce the apparent wind, which takes loads off the sails, rigging, & crew and makes the reefing process easier, safer & faster. Problem is that if you're not careful, you can end up with the main all over the spreaders & possibly tearing it. Also, if you actually head completely downwind, you can't luff the main & end up with more pressure on it that if you were luffing in to the wind. Heaving to eliminates forward motion, so apparent wind is reduced along with boat motion, but not as much as going down wind which can take 10-14 knots off apparent wind if sailing at 7 knots close hauled vs 7 knots down wind. Heaving to (backing jib, luffing main, steer boat to wind) is my vote as best, though I usually just luff then main & reef while underway.
the idea of heading downwind, especially in heavier weather, is to reduce the apparent wind, which takes loads off the sails, rigging, & crew and makes the reefing process easier, safer & faster. Problem is that if you're not careful, you can end up with the main all over the spreaders & possibly tearing it. Also, if you actually head completely downwind, you can't luff the main & end up with more pressure on it that if you were luffing in to the wind. Heaving to eliminates forward motion, so apparent wind is reduced along with boat motion, but not as much as going down wind which can take 10-14 knots off apparent wind if sailing at 7 knots close hauled vs 7 knots down wind. Heaving to (backing jib, luffing main, steer boat to wind) is my vote as best, though I usually just luff then main & reef while underway.
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