jiffy reefing

[John Dodge]

I am sailing a 1984 Hunter 31. I've been searching the archives on reefing. I have the rams head on both sides of the goose neck and an extra line coming out at the aft end of the boom. does this line get attached to the grommet at the leech section I want to reef and the luff grommet goes onto the ram's head?would I use cloth sail ties for the remaining grommets?or should I use a stronger type line?

 

[Paul]

Through the leech cringle

Usually, the reef line doesn't get attached directly to the grommet (cringle). It should come out of the boom, through the cringle, and back down to the boom. Look for a little eye or a bail or some other attachment point on the boom there. That same line should come out of the front end of the boom, and you should have some way of securing it there (like a cleat).The line does nothing with the rams horns. When you lower the sail to reef, hook the grommet on the leading edge of the sail (the luff cringle) on one of the rams horns. Then pull on the line coming out the front of the boom and it will pull the leech down to the boom. Cleat it, harden the halyard and you're done.You can lace sail ties through the other grommets, but that's just for neatness. I'll do it if I reef at the dock or if I'm close hauled, but if the boom is out of reach I don't bother.

 

[David Knauer]

Reefing

John,What Paul has to say is all good stuff. If there is no reefing "eye" for the clew reefing line, you might bring the line down to the boom and tie it tightly around the boom (assuming you have sail slides on the foot). Also, you might pre-mark your halyard to the reefing point so you can do this quickly. I think I could reef my H34 in less than a minute with the auto-pilot steering the boat and the boat sailing under jib alone. If you intend to sail close-hauled after reefing, it is important to get the clew reefing cringle down tight to the boom. This flattens the draft in the main sail and allows you to sail with less heel.