The recent discussions on mainsail furling systems create the impression that reefing the mainsail when the wind pipes up is difficult, heavy work that many of us are a little intimidated by. The worst scenario is where the vessel is brought almost completely head to wind in order to take the pressure of the mainsail. This will cause apparent wind speed to increase sharply, main and jib to flap wildly and loudly, boatspeed to drop to zero, the helm to respond no longer and the vessel to flop around in the waves. By now, every passenger and novice crew member on board is starting to get scared...... Therefore, next time the skipper decides to furl the jib first (so it can't flap itself to pieces) and to start the Yanmar. Now there is less pandemonium and some boatspeed is maintained and, thus, helm control. Then he reefs the sail, falls off, sets the jib again and stops the engine. However, this is a fair amount of work and requires getting the off-watch on deck to man the helm, unless he has a really good autopilot or windvane. Also, turning directly into wind and waves immediately increases the apparent windspeed in the cockpit and may be accompanied by fairly strong pitching and slamming. There must be an easier way, right? Sure, and buying a furling main can be one of these ways. However, it is by no means the only way to reefing heaven (plus you've got to be rich, which, according to The Book makes your chances of arriving there pretty slim to start with......). So, here are my favorite reefing techniques: (1) Reefing while "HOVE TO" (wonderful if you are singlehanding or things got a bit out of control or you want to reassure the passengers or it was getting time for lunch anyhow). Just heave to on jib and rudder and release mainsheet till nearly all of the pressure is off the mainsail. Then reef at your leisure. Meanwhile, peace and serenity (or perhaps sanity) have returned on board; passengers who were getting a bit scared are recovering their wits and you are being toasted as an accomplished old salt. But don't you need to tack through the wind in order to heave to? No, all you have to do is to come up to a broad reach, winch the clew of the jib (or, preferably, the staysail) to windward, release the mainsheet (and/or the traveler) and -- as the boat loses speed and the bow starts to blow off - fully counter the rudder. It's THAT simple; no sails to furl, no engine to start, no extra hands on deck. Then, when you are ready to go again, just pull in the mainsheet to gather some speed, slowly release the rudder so you don't tack and let the clew of the jib slip back to leeward. (2) Reefing while CLOSE-HAULED (great if conditions allow you to be really close-hauled, e.g. when already pinching and/or motorsailing). Steer as close to the wind as you can without losing too much speed while sheeting the jib (or, better, the staysail) in tightly and, if necessary, using the engine (i.e. motorsailing). Then just let go of the mainsheet (and traveler) till you see the main starting to luff (basically, you are bringing only the mainsail and the boom head to wind, without the jib and the rest of the boat having to follow suit). Then reef, pull the mainsheet back in and resume sailing. This method requires a competent helmsman, autopilot or windvane but allows you to keep making headway during the reefing procedure. (3) Reefing while PINCHING (this time-honored approach is usually the best method if "reefer" and helmsman make a good team). Come up to a broad reach only (to maintain good boat speed) while sheeting the jib in too tight (i.e. for close-hauled sailing) and the main too loose (i.e. for a beam reach). When the 'reefer' is ready to ease the main halyard the helmsman heads up sharply till the main starts to luff and reefing can start. The helmsman has to watch out for two things: (a) not to tack; and (b) not too lose too much speed (and thus helm control). If either problem occurs before the helmsman was able to bear off again the engine will generally need to be started to regain control of the bow. If reefing is not yet completed (e.g. reef line and/or main halyard still need to be tightened further) a second, or even a third pinch may be needed. (4) Reefing while RUNNING OFF (this is often the preferred method for smaller vessels with low friction running rigging or for medium-sized vessels with super-duper batcars and is likely to be your fallback method on most any vessel if you are suddenly overpowered by a violent gust). If you have high friction running rigging and mast slides, particularly with a large, fully battened mainsail, you will generally find it difficult or impossible to reef while running unless you more or less center the boom. If you are able to run DDW (dead down wind; e.g. with wing-on-wing jib and staysail) you can fully center the boom with double preventers (the mainsheet needs to remain loose enough to prevent the boom from being pulled down too far; unless you can use the topping lift to keep the boom up). If you are not DDW you can try to center the boom relative to the wind, rather than to the vessel, in order to take most of the pressure off the main. While reefing you should try to release the main halyard bit by bit while taking up on the reefline, thereby preventing the wind from getting hold of a large slab of loose mainsail. It may be advisable to keep boatspeed up (and thus apparent wind speed down) with the help of jib and/or engine. The helmsperson needs to watch out keenly for broaches, particularly as long as the main is centered and not yet reduced to the proper size for the conditions you are in. Hope this is of some use to newby sailors in this forum. Flying Dutchman
1) Coming to a Broad Reach (Starboard side in this example). The apparent wind is coming in at around 110 degrees from the bow of the boat, blowing strong (afterall that is why I'm trying to heave to). The boat is running, jib is trimmed onto port side and the boom is out port side as well. 2) Winch the clew of the jib to Starboard. The jib is still filled with running wind. 3) Here's where I'm a bit confused. Release the mainsheet. The boom swings further outward...almost like you're running wing-to-wing, except the wind is still coming at 110, and therefore the jib is filled in the opposite way. While in this position, wouldn't the main sail be full of strong wind air, filling from the stern? James "obviously missing something" Marohn Perelandra - Hunter Vision 32 PS How effective would heaving to be on a stayless boat such as the Vision 32? The jib is so small compared to the enormour main sail...will it actually be effective in bringing the boat to a Hove to position?