Reefing H26/260

[George H260]

Love my H260 but been reading about other boats and notice that the sequence of reefing varies between boat models. I'm interested in other H26/H260 owners experience here.I always assume it's easier to shake out a reef than put one in; so, when in doubt I reef the main before leaving the dock. All sails are out until the winds get up to about 15mph. This is my sequence: 1. Take 25 percent out of the headsail. 2. If still overpowered I reef the main.3. If still overpowered I pull in most if not all the headsail.4. If still overpowered douse the main and and head for home under power. What is your experience?

 

[Dusty Rhoads]

About the same

The only difference would be two reef points. So before I head in I will reef deeper.

 

[Paul J. Rusyniak]

George…

Our 2001 h260 is for sale, but after five years of sailing her, we’d have to agree with your assessment of reefing early - certainly easier to shake out than put in!!!We’ve sailed under full jib alone, but couldn’t tack, just gibe. Otherwise, she handled OK.Reefed jib really never worked well as the reefed shape wasn’t great and it made the weather helm substantially worse.We had a second reef put in last winter, but never had the chance to try it out as we moved back to a daysailor. I think the second reef would improve big wind performance more than anything else.She sails under bare poles very well, with all of that freeboard, as long as you want to go where she wants to go!!!PaulPS George, you’ve done a really great job of documenting the h260. THANK YOU!!!

 

[Rich L]

I hate rounding up...

At about 15-18 knots true, I simultaneously reef the jib 25% and the main 25%, but I have a 125% jib and a slightly taller and wider main than stock.Then I pull in the jib at about 20 knots. Then I second-reef the main at 25 knots.However, yesterday I was really having trouble going dead down wind on single reefed main (no jib) in 18 knots. It wanted to round up on me to the point of me not being able to point the boat where I wanted to go. I ended up on a beam reach with as much twist in my rudder as my sail.I had the vang off completely, so it's twisted like the dickens with very little draft. Can't let the main out all the way cause of swept back spreaders. My only recourse that I can think of was to tuck the next reef, but seems crazy to tuck a reef just for one point of sail when you're on a small lake.Ideas?