Reef Line As Cunningham

[Steve Carpman]

We just acquired a new main for our Legend 37.5 with two reefs and a cunningham. We are also converting from a "friction-plagued" single line reefing system to a smooth operating (we hope) two line system. Thus, we will have a line through each of the forward reefing cringles at all times. With this arrangement, is there any need for the cunningham. It sure seems like the forward line for the No. 1 reef can be used as the cunningham. Is there some reason why this cannot or should not be done?

 

[Tom Wootton]

Off the top of my head...

...the cunningham cringle is usually somewhat lower than the first reef cringle; the sail area below the cringle becomes less effective when tension is applied. The higher the cringle, the more the sail's effectiveness is reduced. Mostly speculation on my part; I haven't sailed on a boat with a cunningham since I was a kid. Is there any way to eliminate the cunningham altogether, and just use the halyard to tension the luff?

 

[Dave Sharp]

Tom is correct

The cunningham is much lower on theluff of the mainsail than the 1st reef point. Generally the cunningham is tensioned when you are slightly overpowered beating or close reaching. Using the reef point will distort the sail area below the reef cringle and reduce its effectiveness. An advantage to a cunningham over using the halyard is that the cunningham can be eaisily released when rounding a windward mark in a race or bearing further off the wind when cruising. This will allow the draft in the sail to move aft for more power when broad reaching.