I had an old Doyle main that probably was original with my '93c with one deep reef in it. If I were you, I'd rig that baby for reefing that second reef. If you've already reefed once, then have to reef again, conditions could be really dicey by then. I mostly sail alone and don't race and want to keep things as simple as possible. That said, I replaced my old main with a new one with two reef points and installed another cheek block and lines for both reefs. Usually on the Gulf the wind will steadily keep building so I'll probably choose the second reef to be my first one most of the time. Down here we're all watching that oil mighty close. I wrote the President yesterday. Reckon he heard me?
Reefing main, heaving to
- Thread starter walt
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I agree I singlehand also figure if I gotta reef once weather's heading the wrong way and might as well reef deep. I added a couple of turning blocks and a rope clutch leading mainsail halyard aft, hoping with the topping lift and jiffy reef I'll be able to bring main down to reef with out a down haul, think this will work?
No sure who the prez is listening too, definitely not me! Good luck on that oil, our biggest concerns are the forest fires and Yellowstone not blowin' her top!
No sure who the prez is listening too, definitely not me! Good luck on that oil, our biggest concerns are the forest fires and Yellowstone not blowin' her top!
Interesting and timely thread for me. Last weekend I visited the local (Vernon BC) yacht club's open day and saw five Mac26M's and one XWhen I am single hand sailing, I can easily raise or drop my hank on jib from the cockpit.
But the main.. is more complicated. boat.
Ive recently scrapped all the main lines "led aft" and now have a nice simple reefing system - but I need to be up at the mast to do it.
Since this is for single handed sailing,
http://www.videos.sailingcourse.com/heaving_to_wmv1.htm
Ive also reefed the main at the mast in the past with just using something like a tiller tamer (holds the tiller) but if your not fast...
Not one classic or earlier. I took a number of photos and here are two showing a Main reefing set up. Hummm cumbersome ?
Walt, I wasn't able to view your video but heard the narration.
When reefing I heave to, drop the motor and idle it, lash the tiller (now I've just bought a T-tamer to install) clip on, go fwd, double reef, drop the jib. I now have the use of a genny and considering making a furler for it. Don't race so finessing isn't needed. At this time I eat, leak, rest, map read etc before taking on the fresher wind and think of the equipment to make this easier but like Sum I enjoy going fwd to stretch my legs.
Like your idea of contol from the cabin must try that.
Jessie Watson is close to home. Now I will have to live vicariously else where --get off my butt and head to Hiada Gwaii. THe last photo is of a boat that was at the open day. it is about the size of Jessie's S&S look at all the rigging any one know what it is?
Mic
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With these boats, you always have to consider that people use them in different ways so different things are important and that has an influence on how they are set up. In my case and going into my fourth season with this boat, I am considerably driven by easy setup since I mostly trailer and I want good performance when reefed. For the setup, running all the lines aft takes time (ie, halyards, outhaul, reefing lines) and Ive gotten away from this. If I only did the setup once or twice per season, I probably would have more lines run aft. When I have had lines run aft, I just cant get the quality of the sail set as nice as if I do it at the mast - of course there are probably better ways to do this than I was doing it but my setup is simple now and easy to get nice sail shape and "hove to" makes this work single handed. If I were in a slip all season, I maybe would do some things differently.
I also "vote" for only a single reefing point - but that is partly because I'm pretty much capable of "managing" only one. One key to making this work is getting a lot of range out of the the sails you have and especially a traveler makes this possible but also other adjustments like outhaul, vang, backstay help. I usually don't mess with most of the sail adjustment but if its windy, I constantly am using the traveler.
I use a hank on jib with a "downhaul" and both the halyard and the downhaul on the jib are led aft to the cockpit. Hank on jib = easier mast raising.
If single handed (80% of my sailing), I pretty much only use the working jib and use the traveler on the main a lot. As the wind picks up, I will usually first reef the main - as mentioned, this is where the old Mac is most fun to sail for me. Then, if things pick up more, I will drop the jib (easy to do from the cockpit - you need the downhaul to drop the jib) and sail on only the reefed main. With the traveler, it takes a LOT of wind before this configuration is too much - like fairly filled in white caps.. but next would be to drop all sails and either throw an anchor or start the motor.
Interesting pictures of the M reefing system..
(LED christmas lights..doesnt everyone sail with these?)
I also "vote" for only a single reefing point - but that is partly because I'm pretty much capable of "managing" only one. One key to making this work is getting a lot of range out of the the sails you have and especially a traveler makes this possible but also other adjustments like outhaul, vang, backstay help. I usually don't mess with most of the sail adjustment but if its windy, I constantly am using the traveler.
I use a hank on jib with a "downhaul" and both the halyard and the downhaul on the jib are led aft to the cockpit. Hank on jib = easier mast raising.
If single handed (80% of my sailing), I pretty much only use the working jib and use the traveler on the main a lot. As the wind picks up, I will usually first reef the main - as mentioned, this is where the old Mac is most fun to sail for me. Then, if things pick up more, I will drop the jib (easy to do from the cockpit - you need the downhaul to drop the jib) and sail on only the reefed main. With the traveler, it takes a LOT of wind before this configuration is too much - like fairly filled in white caps.. but next would be to drop all sails and either throw an anchor or start the motor.
Interesting pictures of the M reefing system..
(LED christmas lights..doesnt everyone sail with these?)
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LEDs
Yup and the boat isn't even in the water. I think it also annoys my neigbors not because of any light polution but they are adverse to Christmas. (I'm trying to be politically correc there)
I am away from home and now on my new lap top and the RV site has wifi.
I tried opening your sailing lesson and got it. Impressive. Didn't think a keel would stall with having both side with the same erofoil shape.
Your type of sailing is akin to what I'm pressently doing. I was going to put everthing back to the cockpit but you have given me another aspect of the simplicity of what I have.
Jib down haul do you have any photos on your set up? Also how does that help mast raising?
Also my previous statement about not "finessing the sails' is over smplified what I meant. I like a full sail with no lluffing and tell tales even taking the best advantage of the wind. I've been with people who tire out working the sail and forgetting to enjoy the trip. A saying I use "when the instrument becomes the object then some thing need altering"
Where are your jib travellers mounted and do you have a boom traveller?
Your tips are encouraging and I will take them with me to try and KISS
I occassionally practice turning figure of eights with just the sails and the rudder out of the water. Similar to how you show in the video.
Thanks
Mic
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