Newbie Reefing question

[ScottD]

OK, here is an easy one.
I reefed my Hunter 240 a couple of times (had help both times).
Now reefing my S2 9.2C.
Does not have any reefing ties (ropes). Can I knot one end of your standard utility line (rope) and reef away?
Does the other end get secured to the boom via a cleat?
I am still learning my way around the boat, so I appreciate the guidance.
Seems to me that sailing is the easy part. Everything else seems to stump me.
Thanks
ScottD

 

[sailingdog]

This assumes you have slab or jiffy reefing...not roller or in-mast reefing.

Hmm... do you have a reefing line through the aft-most reefing cringle on the sail?? The smaller grommets are for reefing ties to bundle up the bunt of the sail and prevent it from flogging itself to pieces if you're on a point of sail with the reefs in for a longer period of time, and not always necessary if you're just day sailing.

To reef the steps are generally as follows:

1) Tighten up on the topping lift—this is to prevent the boom from dropping and whacking people.

2) Ease the mainsail halyard until the forward reefing tack cringle (large grommet) can be brought down to the gooseneck and attached to a reefing tack hook.

3) Tension the reefing clew cringle, usually by a reefing line that is tied around the boom, goes up to the cringle (large grommet) and then down and aft to a sheave in the end of the boom or on the side of the boom. This line is then tensioned to provide downward and outward force on the reefing cringle. It acts as both an outhaul and sail slug/boltrope.

4) Tension the mainsail halyard

5) Ease the outhaul.

At this point you can tie the reefing lines if you want. The reefing lines should not go around the boom if you have a loose-footed main. If you tie them around the boom and forget to untie them before shaking out the reef, you stand a much greater chance of tearing the sail.

The reefing ties are usually 1/4" or 5/16" line that is passed through the reefing line grommets and has a knot tied on either side to prevent it from passing through the grommet in either direction. I usually recommend tying a stopper knot in it, rather than an overhand knot, as I believe it weakens the line less and is easier to untie if you have to remove the reefing lines.

 

[Jim5569]

Scott,

Telstar 28 is correct in his description of how to reef your mainsail.

I have a S2 9.2A and I suspect you have the same boom configuration as mine. There should be two spare sheaves in the aft end of the boom. There should also be two built in cam cleates near the other end of the boom (by the mast). For each reef point, you will need a 5/16 or 3/8 inch line long enough to reach from the mast to the end of the boom, up to the reef grommet and back down to the boom a few inches aft of the grommet. Add 2 feet to this line length. The line is run inside the boom (you will have to take the fitting off the end of the boom to get it routed) from the cam cleat to the sheave, then up to the sail grommet and back down to a tie off point on the boom aft of the grommet. This reef line can be left in place and left loose when the sail is not reefed. To reef the sail, tighten the topping lift, loosen the main halyard, pull the reefing line tight (to bring the rear grommet down to the boom), hook the front grommet in the hook near the goose neck, then retighten the main halyard. I usually do not bother with ties in the small reef grommets along the boom, since the idea of reefing is to reduce the sail area and you are not looking for maximum efficiency. There is also the risk of ripping the sail if you forget to take one or more of them out when you unreef.

If you have everything rigged properly, this size sail is not difficult to either reef or unreef.

Jim

 

[ScottD]

Thank you very much. So are you saying that you do not use all the reefing points/grommets? It looks like I have several across the sail. Do you just use the first and the last?
Again, thanks.
ScottD

 

[ScottD]

Hey Sailing Dog. Thanks for the detailed reply. The diagram is incredibly helpful.
Regards
ScottD

 

[sailingdog]

Scott-

Glad to help.

The larger foreward most and aft most "grommets" in each set of reefing points are called reefing cringles and are installed with fairly large reinforcement patches around them, and allow them to take the loads necessary to act as a temporary tack and clew for the reefed sail. If you look at the sail, you'll see how these two cringles have multiple layers of sailcloth around them to spread the loading on the sail out.

The smaller intermediate grommets, called reefing points, are used to tie up the bunt or excess foot of the reefed sail so it doesn't flog or drop off the boom and block your visibility and such. Most people I know, if the reef is going to be used for only a short duration, don't tie the reefing points. These are reinforced with a couple of layers of cloth to make sure the grommets don't cause a weak spot in the sail and cause the sail to tear there.

 

[Maine Sail]

There are only two...

There are usually only two real "load bearing" cringles for reefs one, two or three at the luff end of the sail and reefs one, two or three at the leach end.

The ties or nettles, as they are called, are really just to keep your sail bundled to the boom like sail ties would. As Dog said they are really to keep it from beating its self to death and to contain it. I don't generally use them at all and don't leave them mounted to my sail. can usually manage to tuck my sail in a manner that prevents it from blowing out.

They, the nettles, should not be carrying any sort of load and only the luff reef cringle and the leach reef cringle should be carrying the loads on a sail of your design..

If you can manage to tuck your sail so it does not "fall out and blow around" then you don't really need to use them at all. Not using them makes it easier and quicker to reef and also somewhat easier to adjust sail trim. The great majority of sailors never sail in conditions that would actually blow out a good flake and tuck. I can sail in winds up to about 35 before needing or wanting to use nettles and even then I generally don't. On rare occasions I will slip a small piece of line through one nettle cringle and contain the middle of the sail. Over 35 and I'm usually on a small head sail only or maybe a triple reef and a small or drastically reefed head sail... try the flake and tuck!

If you can reef easier you'll reef earlier and more often..:dance:

 

[sailingdog]

And get as much practice reefing your sails in good weather. Ideally, IMHO, you should be able to throw a reef in the main in under two minutes.

If you can reef easier you'll reef earlier and more often..:dance:

 

[BrianW]

Re: There are only two...

I can sadly attest to the fact that if you tie down the nettles (thanks Maine for the correct name) around the boom, you will eventually forget to untie them. I sailed one day singlehanded with a double reef. It was a pretty rough day and I played hell docking the boat and was ready to call it a day. Then bottom line, I forgot to untie the nettle ties. On a later sail, as I raised the main, I felt some resistance. I ruled out the usual suspect and kept cranking on. Then I heard a sickening "RIP". I didn't even have to look. I KNEW what I had neglected to do. I can tell you, it's pretty embassing when you slither into the saillmaker's loft and show him an example of your own stupidity. The sailmaker did a fabulous job on the repair. He told me he could have made a perfect color match on the repair patch, but decided to use a whiter material just to remind me in the future. BrianW

 

[sailingdog]

Brian-

Sounds like your sailmaker has a twisted sense of humor.

On most of the boats I sail on, the nettles are bright orange, green or yellow, which makes forgetting them a bit tougher. The worst nettles are the white ones that blend into the sail.