Leech flutter on main sail when reefed

[wnance]

Hi,

Went for a sail today in 18kt winds on Lake Ontario in the O'day 25. I reefed the main with the Jiffy reefing, and we sailed on the main reefed alone (and did 5kts at that!).

I am new to sailing reefed, and our sail shape looked great. The only problem was that the leech on the reefed main was really fluttering. The leech tension adjuster is down at the bottom of the sail, which is below the reef cringle, so I didn't feel like I could pull it taught from there.

What would be the normal course of action- tighten up the leech line before reefing? Try to pull the outhaul tighter or the aft reefing line tighter?

Let me know what you think. I just know the leech shouldn't be fluttering like that, it can't be good for the sail.

The main is about 3 years old.

Thanks!

Wes Nance
Rochester, NY

 

[RichBone]

Could be some problem related to the battens.

Rich

 

[Joe11688]

Generally, a sail maker will have two access points for the reefing line, the second one being for when the sail is reefed. My Thurston sail was made this way. You should be able to have one installed on your sail for pretty cheap money, I think.

 

[wnance]

Generally, a sail maker will have two access points for the reefing line, the second one being for when the sail is reefed. My Thurston sail was made this way. You should be able to have one installed on your sail for pretty cheap money, I think.

Do you mean the leech tension line?

 

[Joe11688]

Do you mean the leech tension line?

Yes, I meant to say the leech tension line. Sorry about that. Sometimes my brain has a tendency to expel gas. I just noticed last week that when the people at Thurston Sails converted my Gennie sail over to fit my furler, they covered up one of my leech lines with a patch. The patch is now coming un-sewn and it's getting caught in my stays when I tack. They made my sails originally and I had them install reef points on the Gennie back then. (big mistake.) Anyway, they provided two access points on this sail for adjusting the leech tension. Each one has a small plastic clam cleat for snubbing the leech line off. I have no idea why they added the patch. I'm either going to have to resew it, or remove the patch all together. Maybe they were afraid that the clam cleat was going to get caught on the stay, so they added the patch. I think that my Mainsail is set up with two leach line access points also.

 

[wnance]

OK, thanks, that's good information. I'm headed down right now to take a look at the sail, specifically the leech line, and I also noticed while sailing yesterday that the batten pockets look like they need to be re-tied, as a couple battens are pushing past the leech.

I want to get this figured out mostly for heavier air when reefed, as I think the sail can really get hammered quick if that leech is fluttering madly. Our main is only a couple seasons old, so I want to try to keep it in as good a shape as possible!

Wes

 

[estopa]

Speaking of Reefing. Does anyone have a picture of the main sail reefed on a 222? I'd like to know how it actually looks like. I am more of a visual rather than literal person in understanding procedures on a boat.

 

[Joe11688]

Speaking of Reefing. Does anyone have a picture of the main sail reefed on a 222? I'd like to know how it actually looks like. I am more of a visual rather than literal person in understanding procedures on a boat.

I only have one George.

 

[wnance]

I've found two problems:

1. We were missing the top batten in the main! How that happened, I'll never know, but we found it in the cabin and replaced it today.

2. The leech tension line is currently running outside of the simple plastic cam cleat used to tension it, so it's not working. It must have been damaged or pulled out at some point, so we'll have to get it working or take it to Haarstick to have it repaired.

Thanks for the help, I think we're on the right track.

Wes

 

[Joe11688]

I've found two problems:

1. We were missing the top batten in the main! How that happened, I'll never know, but we found it in the cabin and replaced it today.

2. The leech tension line is currently running outside of the simple plastic cam cleat used to tension it, so it's not working. It must have been damaged or pulled out at some point, so we'll have to get it working or take it to Haarstick to have it repaired.

Thanks for the help, I think we're on the right track.

Wes

As I mentioned previously, the sailmaker covered my leach line control point with a patch on my Gennie when he converted it to fit my CDI furler. The patch has come un-sewn on one side and it's causing my Gennie to get caught in the stays when the sail is all out and on a tack. I'm either going to re-stitch it or remove the patch all together. I want to be able to use that sail. I'm seriously thinking of going to the club today and doing that. The winds are supposed to be fairly calm today. You were lucky to find that batten Wes. I've been very fortunate so far, as far as battens are concerned, but I guess there's always a first time.
Smooth Sailing!
Joe