I need adivce on when and how to reef my 1984 H31. This weekend I got into what I consider to be strong winds, 20-25 on the Cheseapake Bay. I'm a relatively new sailor - first season on H31, 3 years on 19', lifetime on powerboats where reefing is never an issue. I understand that excessive heeling cuts the speed of the boat. My first reaction was to furlt the jib and keep the main up. I think I was generally changing my course to compensate for the wind rather than adjusting the sails for effeciency. Probably not the best reponse. I've read on these postings to reef early and often, but no other boats were reefing at all. I know if everyone jumps off a cliff, I shouldn't do it, but I try to use other boats as a model when I'm out. Any suggestions, guidance or offers to tutor would be greatly appreaciated by me and my guests.
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Doug B
Go ahead....jump off a cliff!
We have a Hunter 33.5. Im sure it is similiarly rigged. Ours has a 53' mast and and nearly 300 sq.feet of mainsail area. Only one reef point was included. If you have a reef line through the boom you should tie to a bale under the boom slightly behind the leech cringle (so as to tension the foot when reefing) run the line through the leech cringle and then down the aft end of the boom, through the boom and out the gooseneck. Lower the main (release halyard) and pull down luff till the luff cringle can be hooked to the tack hook on the gooseneck. Then retension the main. Then pull the reef line from the gooseneck (ours has built in line stoppers) till the leech cringle is down to the boom. Sail away without so much heel. Remember that even boats bigger than yours (catalina 34 for example) has way less sail area and rig height than most 30+ Hunters. if you wait to reef when they do....you may be getting wet and most definately slower. Good sailing.
We have a Hunter 33.5. Im sure it is similiarly rigged. Ours has a 53' mast and and nearly 300 sq.feet of mainsail area. Only one reef point was included. If you have a reef line through the boom you should tie to a bale under the boom slightly behind the leech cringle (so as to tension the foot when reefing) run the line through the leech cringle and then down the aft end of the boom, through the boom and out the gooseneck. Lower the main (release halyard) and pull down luff till the luff cringle can be hooked to the tack hook on the gooseneck. Then retension the main. Then pull the reef line from the gooseneck (ours has built in line stoppers) till the leech cringle is down to the boom. Sail away without so much heel. Remember that even boats bigger than yours (catalina 34 for example) has way less sail area and rig height than most 30+ Hunters. if you wait to reef when they do....you may be getting wet and most definately slower. Good sailing.
J
John Noland
I'm learning too
I'm learning too. It's my second season owning my `83 H31. I use the comfort factor for reefing criteria. I reef early for guests that freak out when we heel, I reef late for guests that love an adventure. I reef both the roller furling genoa and the main proportionately to keep the boat balanced. My main reefing lines only go out the end of the boom, through the last reef point (the clew?) and then down to the boom to a point slightly behind the it. This pulls the clew down and back. If I'm trying to go fast or go a long way, I'll also run a separate 3/8 line through all the reefing points to keep the foot taught. As for the genoa, I have markings on the roller furler line for proportionate furling points to the mains's first and second reef point. I'm a learner too, so don't take this info as the best info, just food for thought.
I'm learning too. It's my second season owning my `83 H31. I use the comfort factor for reefing criteria. I reef early for guests that freak out when we heel, I reef late for guests that love an adventure. I reef both the roller furling genoa and the main proportionately to keep the boat balanced. My main reefing lines only go out the end of the boom, through the last reef point (the clew?) and then down to the boom to a point slightly behind the it. This pulls the clew down and back. If I'm trying to go fast or go a long way, I'll also run a separate 3/8 line through all the reefing points to keep the foot taught. As for the genoa, I have markings on the roller furler line for proportionate furling points to the mains's first and second reef point. I'm a learner too, so don't take this info as the best info, just food for thought.
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Len O'Connor
Old Saying...
Don, There's an old saying concerning reefing. When should you reef? Fifteen minutes before you decide to. The point being that you are usually always over powered before you decide to shorten sail. I sailed the Bay for fifteen years on a Hunter 30 and found that in general when the winds get much above 15 knots on a boat that size it is time to consider reefing. Not that you can't sail the boat without doing it, just that it's more comfortable, particularly for any guests you might have on board. I have also found that by shortening the main first you can still sail fairly well with the drive from the genoa and then shorten that with the furler if needed. Hope this helps.
Don, There's an old saying concerning reefing. When should you reef? Fifteen minutes before you decide to. The point being that you are usually always over powered before you decide to shorten sail. I sailed the Bay for fifteen years on a Hunter 30 and found that in general when the winds get much above 15 knots on a boat that size it is time to consider reefing. Not that you can't sail the boat without doing it, just that it's more comfortable, particularly for any guests you might have on board. I have also found that by shortening the main first you can still sail fairly well with the drive from the genoa and then shorten that with the furler if needed. Hope this helps.
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Shambie
Procedures for my 31
Don -- Have had an 84 H31 on the Bay for 6 years now. Here's what I do: As Len said, you're going to want to reef around 15 knots. If the boat starts getting overpowered (ie rounds up into the wind in puffs), you should hit the first reef on the main. On a masthead rig such as we have, this is the quickest way to reduce heel. If you're still feeling a little "out of control," then start reducing the jib a bit if you have roller furling. Another trick that works if the wind isn't quite strong enough to round you up, but you want to get the heeling back in control is to ease both the main and jib a little more than they are then. You can also use the traveler and main sheet to give a little twist to the mainsail and let it spill air from the top half of the main. Don't put any sail to the point where it is constantly luffing to avoid wear to the sail, but a little fluttering is okay. In 25 knot winds, I'd be on the first reef on the main, and would adjust the jib to suit. Again, the sails might be eased a bit to keep the boat up straighter. As a last resort, I drop the main and sail under jib only. Some folks disagree with me on this. They can do what they want. A note: NEVER worry about what other boats are doing. Be concerned with YOUR boat and YOUR parameters for comfortable, safe sailing. My husband ragged on me one day for sailing under jib alone on a VERY windy day when we had guests that were new to sailing. We were comfortable, and everyone had a good time, except my husband who was convinced I was the biggest wimp in the world. Then later that day we ran into a (male) friend with a larger boat and we asked him how his day was. He responded that it was so windy that he just sailed back under jib. I gave my husband "the look" and mentioned to our friend (that Jay worships) that Jay thought that was incredibly wimpy. Later we discussed this, and I got him to admit that he would hever have questioned our friend. In the end, he admitted that I did what was right, and I left him with some things to think about ;-) Hope this helps, Shambie
Don -- Have had an 84 H31 on the Bay for 6 years now. Here's what I do: As Len said, you're going to want to reef around 15 knots. If the boat starts getting overpowered (ie rounds up into the wind in puffs), you should hit the first reef on the main. On a masthead rig such as we have, this is the quickest way to reduce heel. If you're still feeling a little "out of control," then start reducing the jib a bit if you have roller furling. Another trick that works if the wind isn't quite strong enough to round you up, but you want to get the heeling back in control is to ease both the main and jib a little more than they are then. You can also use the traveler and main sheet to give a little twist to the mainsail and let it spill air from the top half of the main. Don't put any sail to the point where it is constantly luffing to avoid wear to the sail, but a little fluttering is okay. In 25 knot winds, I'd be on the first reef on the main, and would adjust the jib to suit. Again, the sails might be eased a bit to keep the boat up straighter. As a last resort, I drop the main and sail under jib only. Some folks disagree with me on this. They can do what they want. A note: NEVER worry about what other boats are doing. Be concerned with YOUR boat and YOUR parameters for comfortable, safe sailing. My husband ragged on me one day for sailing under jib alone on a VERY windy day when we had guests that were new to sailing. We were comfortable, and everyone had a good time, except my husband who was convinced I was the biggest wimp in the world. Then later that day we ran into a (male) friend with a larger boat and we asked him how his day was. He responded that it was so windy that he just sailed back under jib. I gave my husband "the look" and mentioned to our friend (that Jay worships) that Jay thought that was incredibly wimpy. Later we discussed this, and I got him to admit that he would hever have questioned our friend. In the end, he admitted that I did what was right, and I left him with some things to think about ;-) Hope this helps, Shambie
T
Tim
EARLY IS BETTER
Don: I sail my '85 31 mostly on the southern Ches Bay and have learned from MUCH experience that, yes, you must reef the tall Hunter rig MUCH earlier than almost every other sailboat on the bay. For "TIDE," I ease the traveler starting at about 12-13 knots apparent (assuming I'm close hauled), put the first reef in around 15-17 knots, second reef NO LATER than 19 knots (that is almost too late and makes it a lot harder to put a good tight reef in) and then begin reducing the jib size by rolling it in above 22 knots (at which time I'm usually kicking myself for being out in the bay anyway!). If I even THINK the wind is above reef speed, I get it over with before I leave the dock. It is a lot easier to shake out a reef than put one in in heavy seas/high winds. The reward is almost as much boat speed and a whole lot less heel (which equal a much happier crew). See you on the bay! Tim
Don: I sail my '85 31 mostly on the southern Ches Bay and have learned from MUCH experience that, yes, you must reef the tall Hunter rig MUCH earlier than almost every other sailboat on the bay. For "TIDE," I ease the traveler starting at about 12-13 knots apparent (assuming I'm close hauled), put the first reef in around 15-17 knots, second reef NO LATER than 19 knots (that is almost too late and makes it a lot harder to put a good tight reef in) and then begin reducing the jib size by rolling it in above 22 knots (at which time I'm usually kicking myself for being out in the bay anyway!). If I even THINK the wind is above reef speed, I get it over with before I leave the dock. It is a lot easier to shake out a reef than put one in in heavy seas/high winds. The reward is almost as much boat speed and a whole lot less heel (which equal a much happier crew). See you on the bay! Tim
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