Reefed Main looks like *&#@! !!!

[Rick D]

WELL, AFTER GETTING KILLED ALL SUMMER SAILING ALONE WITH FULL MAIN AND JIB TODAY I DECIDED TO REEF MY MAIN. gOT OUT THERE STARTED SAILING AND MY MAIN LOOKED LIKE SHIT.i ALMOST STOPPED AND WAS GOING TO TAKE IT OUT BUT FIGURED I'D GIVE IT A TRY. WHEN I GOT AROUND WARWICK LIGHT IT WAS BLOWING 25 WITH ALOT OF CHOP, WAS GLAD I REEFED BUT THE SAIL LOOKED LOUSY,ESPECIALLY WHEN I JIBED AND STARTED TO HEAD BACK IN . DO ALL MAINS LOOK TERIBLE WHEN REEFED? I HAVE THE TYPE OF REEFING YOU ROLL UP THE SAIL WITH THE BOOM. I THINK I'LL SAIL WITH FULL MAIN TOMORROW

 

[Jay Tracy]

Reefed Main

I don't know how to make your main look pretty, but we were off Warwick Light yesterday in a 32 foot Columbia and turned back because of that wind. If you have a OD 20 you should not have been out there in the first place. I suspect those gusts were over 30 mph.Jay Tracy

 

[Steve Christensen]

Get to know Jack

I used to sail solo with an OD 192 alot. I'm not sure what you mean by rolling up the main with the boom, unless the boom actually spins. My OD192 had single line jiffy reefing. Every so often along the boom you could tie a line through the mainsail and around the boom. Very neat. Always remember o reef early, especially when you are alone. At any rate... get to know Jack Line and his brother Tether. They hang around their friend Harness. Anyone who sails solo without them may not be coming home. Ask the pro racers, oh yeah, a few of them forgot in the last couple of years, and they are still out to sea. As we say in FL, Arrive Alive. Solo sailing is great fun and tests your ability to live with your decisions. Just be prepared. Sorry, class dismissed.

 

[Justin - O'day Owners' Web]

Sails and Such

Rick -It was _blowing_ yesterday! Must have been an adventurous sail. Roller reefed mains were popular for a little while b/c they are easy to use. They make a horrible sail shape, however, as you found out. In answer to your question: yep - all roller reefed mains look crummy. (Flame suit on). You wind up with way too much draft, way too low, and way to far aft. The solution is to have a sail maker put standard reef points in the sail for you this winter. Ought to cost about $80 to have done. Then a couple of fittings on the boom and you're in great shape.Justin - O'day Owners' web

 

[Rick D]

Justin, how will that change my sail shape

Won't reefing points bring my sail down the same way