When single handing in heavy weather, it sometimes seems a little dicey to go up to the mast to reef my main. I am thinking of running the lines back to the cockpit. Has anyone done this and what are your thoughts?
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Small point ...
Won't you still have to go to the mast to connect your reef cringle to the ram's head?
Won't you still have to go to the mast to connect your reef cringle to the ram's head?
Heave to and....
...put the pfd on...unless your in rough seas your vessel should settle down to provide relatively safe access to the mast to set the cringle on the mast ram's head. You could lead lines for you leech points to the cockpit. Cheers! Chet
...put the pfd on...unless your in rough seas your vessel should settle down to provide relatively safe access to the mast to set the cringle on the mast ram's head. You could lead lines for you leech points to the cockpit. Cheers! Chet
Single line reefing
Single line reefing has been around for years. This type of reefing does not require that the reefing cringle go over a horn at the tack. Check any book on rigging and you can get the details. Basically a line goes through cringles at the clew and tack. Ease the main, ease the halyard ( I have it marked) haul on the reefing line, tighten the halyard. You're done, all from the cockpit.
Single line reefing has been around for years. This type of reefing does not require that the reefing cringle go over a horn at the tack. Check any book on rigging and you can get the details. Basically a line goes through cringles at the clew and tack. Ease the main, ease the halyard ( I have it marked) haul on the reefing line, tighten the halyard. You're done, all from the cockpit.
This is coming up a lot. Here's what I did.
First go over to 'Big Boats' and read the thread by Joe Mullee. Then see what I posted for him on my web site. See photos #119-124.
First go over to 'Big Boats' and read the thread by Joe Mullee. Then see what I posted for him on my web site. See photos #119-124.
simple to do
Just run a line from near the end of the boom, up thru the leech cringle, back down and thru a cheek block below the cringle. Continue runing the line forward towards the goose neck fitting. Place another cheek block there at the end of the boom. Run the line up thru the luff cringle and back down to the base of the mast. Put a block there and another block on the cabin roof to turn the line back towards the cockpit. At the edge of the roof, put a clutch or cam cleat with a fairlead. When you want to reef the main, turn up into the wind, take up the topping lift or clip onto the pigtail. Ease the main halyard to a premarked spot. Pull in the reefing line until the mainsail's reefing cringles are down to the boom, and lock it in. Pull the main halyard tight again. Use short pieces of line thru the reef grommets to secure the excess mainsail to the boom. Undo the pigtail, and ease the mainsheet to resume sailing, under a reefed main. All this is accomplished from your cockpit. You could probably buy all of the parts for around $100. If you're sailing single handed, you'll appreciate the ease and safety factors.
Just run a line from near the end of the boom, up thru the leech cringle, back down and thru a cheek block below the cringle. Continue runing the line forward towards the goose neck fitting. Place another cheek block there at the end of the boom. Run the line up thru the luff cringle and back down to the base of the mast. Put a block there and another block on the cabin roof to turn the line back towards the cockpit. At the edge of the roof, put a clutch or cam cleat with a fairlead. When you want to reef the main, turn up into the wind, take up the topping lift or clip onto the pigtail. Ease the main halyard to a premarked spot. Pull in the reefing line until the mainsail's reefing cringles are down to the boom, and lock it in. Pull the main halyard tight again. Use short pieces of line thru the reef grommets to secure the excess mainsail to the boom. Undo the pigtail, and ease the mainsheet to resume sailing, under a reefed main. All this is accomplished from your cockpit. You could probably buy all of the parts for around $100. If you're sailing single handed, you'll appreciate the ease and safety factors.
Two Line Reefing
I like two line reefing led back to the cockpit a lot. With a marked halyard it works slick.
I like two line reefing led back to the cockpit a lot. With a marked halyard it works slick.
My preference
is two line reefing for each reef point. The tack line is set a about a 45 degree angle and pulls the tack into the mast eliminating the need for the "ram's horn". The second line, being independant hauls in the clew at exactly the tension desired. And the system actualy works. In use I bring the boat very close to the wind, ease the main, ease the solid vang, drop the main a bit, haul in the tack line, haul and winch in the clew line, winch up the main, then reset the controls. Probably takes less than two minutes and shapes the main nicely.
is two line reefing for each reef point. The tack line is set a about a 45 degree angle and pulls the tack into the mast eliminating the need for the "ram's horn". The second line, being independant hauls in the clew at exactly the tension desired. And the system actualy works. In use I bring the boat very close to the wind, ease the main, ease the solid vang, drop the main a bit, haul in the tack line, haul and winch in the clew line, winch up the main, then reset the controls. Probably takes less than two minutes and shapes the main nicely.
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