I own a Hunter 35.5 that has a sail with two aft reefing lines attached to the mainsail (they go up from the boom to the leech reefing grommet and down thru the aft-boom to the tack then to the cockpit for adjustments). My problem is that the two reefing lines flog loudly - and doing damage I am sure - when the wind is from starboard. When the wind is from port, the lines are quiet. (Note: the reefing lines are tied to the port side of the boom). Also, my mainsail does not have any slats installed; if that makes a difference. Can someone help me understand and fix this annoying problem?
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First, unless you sail in San Fransisco bay, chances are you will never need the second reef. I've owned my 35.5 since '93 and have only used the 1st reef a few of times. I leave the second reef line off the main entirely. Second, as Joe suggests, after your main is up you simply remove the excess slack in the reef line and leave it cleated like that. There is no need to touch it again unless you reef the main. Pulling the single reef line will remove the slack from both the leach and luff on a fully hoisted main. Flogging the reef lines while head to wind only happens for a second or two. If you are flogging longer than that, just think of the damage you are doing to the fabric of the main. Either trim and sail off or drop the sail.
I agree with Alan
The only time I have ever needed, or rather wanted, to use a second reef in a mainsail is when sailing offshore for long periods of time. If you have one reef in a main, furled or reduced your headsail appropriately, and you still need to reduce sail, I just sail with either the reefed main or reefed/furled headsail. As a result, when I bought a new main for my H28.5, I ordered it with only one set of reef points and in 3 yrs of use have never regretted that choice. As far as your reefing lines aft are concerned, if you tighten them up to parallel the sail, and have trimmed the sail so the leech does not flutter, that should work for you.
The only time I have ever needed, or rather wanted, to use a second reef in a mainsail is when sailing offshore for long periods of time. If you have one reef in a main, furled or reduced your headsail appropriately, and you still need to reduce sail, I just sail with either the reefed main or reefed/furled headsail. As a result, when I bought a new main for my H28.5, I ordered it with only one set of reef points and in 3 yrs of use have never regretted that choice. As far as your reefing lines aft are concerned, if you tighten them up to parallel the sail, and have trimmed the sail so the leech does not flutter, that should work for you.
I did tension the reef lines
Thanks for your ideas, but i have tensioned the reef lines: loose, medium and even very tight once with the winch, all to no avail. I will try different sail trims angles; but I thought my mainsail was trimmed correctly. And it only occurs when the wind is over starboard???!! My sails do not have battens, do you think this contributes to the problem? The flogging disruptes an otherwise pleasant sailing experience. -- I like your ideas about getting rid of the 2nd reef line though, think I'll take your advice on that.....and if the 2nd reef line is eliminated, it may reduce them flogging against each other????
Thanks for your ideas, but i have tensioned the reef lines: loose, medium and even very tight once with the winch, all to no avail. I will try different sail trims angles; but I thought my mainsail was trimmed correctly. And it only occurs when the wind is over starboard???!! My sails do not have battens, do you think this contributes to the problem? The flogging disruptes an otherwise pleasant sailing experience. -- I like your ideas about getting rid of the 2nd reef line though, think I'll take your advice on that.....and if the 2nd reef line is eliminated, it may reduce them flogging against each other????
Batten
JimH, If your boat has the original UK mainsail, you should have 4 battens extending from the leech to the sail track on the mast. If they are not installed, this can contribute to your problem. Also the reefing system you describe is not exact. The system on the 35.5 uses 4 different ropes, not 2. 2 green and 2 red. Both reds are normally used for the second reef. One of those red reefing line must be tied at the end of the boom, go inside the boom to a floating double ended block, come back to the end of the boom into a sheave, go up to the eyelet in the sail and be tied under the boom. Make sure that the sliding attachment point under the boom is in line with the eyelet in the sail. There is no reason for this line to move if everything is tight and the batten are installed.
JimH, If your boat has the original UK mainsail, you should have 4 battens extending from the leech to the sail track on the mast. If they are not installed, this can contribute to your problem. Also the reefing system you describe is not exact. The system on the 35.5 uses 4 different ropes, not 2. 2 green and 2 red. Both reds are normally used for the second reef. One of those red reefing line must be tied at the end of the boom, go inside the boom to a floating double ended block, come back to the end of the boom into a sheave, go up to the eyelet in the sail and be tied under the boom. Make sure that the sliding attachment point under the boom is in line with the eyelet in the sail. There is no reason for this line to move if everything is tight and the batten are installed.
Also...
with "stock" set-up, the green 1st reef goes up the starboard side of the aft part of the main, through reef cringle, down to boom tie-off, and the red 2nd reef should go up the port side, through reef cringle, and down to boom tie-off. I agree with Alan, you probably don't need 2nd reef, however, you REALLY need to get those battens in there.
with "stock" set-up, the green 1st reef goes up the starboard side of the aft part of the main, through reef cringle, down to boom tie-off, and the red 2nd reef should go up the port side, through reef cringle, and down to boom tie-off. I agree with Alan, you probably don't need 2nd reef, however, you REALLY need to get those battens in there.
Battens for sure.
They help to support the roach on the sail which certainly reduce leech flutter. My stock UK main came with "short" battens. When I had my first main built, I used a single full length batten at the top and tapered IOR style battens in the other three pockets. I'm curious about the "...And it only occurs when the wind is over starboard...". Have you ever changed the aft reef line? You may want to consider replacing that thick reef line with a much smaller length of V12.
They help to support the roach on the sail which certainly reduce leech flutter. My stock UK main came with "short" battens. When I had my first main built, I used a single full length batten at the top and tapered IOR style battens in the other three pockets. I'm curious about the "...And it only occurs when the wind is over starboard...". Have you ever changed the aft reef line? You may want to consider replacing that thick reef line with a much smaller length of V12.
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