I have a reefing question I have been playing with for a few years, so Id thought Id throw it out to the group for your opinions., On our boat, We have a loose footed main. Yesterday I installed our sails getting ready for the season.. Our boom is rigged with 2 reefing lines, The lines are rigged from the mast to the goose neck through the boom out the end around a sheeve then tied to each reefing point on the leach of sail. The foot (as I said) is loose. The 1st and second reef points have cringles along the reefed foot in the sail. In these cringles Ive installed reef ties. So on to my question. When you reef a loose footed main, Do you tie your reefing lines (which would be the new foot as the sail drops) around the boom?...or around the base of the sail so the sail remains loose footed? Ive seen it done both ways, but which is correct for a loose footed main?...or does it matter? Thanks Rob
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Always around the sail only, never around the boom
If the reefing point ties are around the boom, and IF the gooseneck reef connection or the clew lines slip or come loose you will RIP the sail. In reality you dont even need to tie in the reef points to be 'functional', just to 'tidy-up'. If you have a lazy jack system, hardly ever do you need to tie in the reef points.
If the reefing point ties are around the boom, and IF the gooseneck reef connection or the clew lines slip or come loose you will RIP the sail. In reality you dont even need to tie in the reef points to be 'functional', just to 'tidy-up'. If you have a lazy jack system, hardly ever do you need to tie in the reef points.
no lines in reefing cringles
Hello, When I reef my loose footed main I don't bother to tie in any of those lines. I have single line reefing and when the tack and clew are tight, the 'belly' of the sail just sits along the boom. I used to tie the reefing lines through the cringles (and never around the boom), but they didn't seem to do anything so I just stopped using them. Good luck, Barry
Hello, When I reef my loose footed main I don't bother to tie in any of those lines. I have single line reefing and when the tack and clew are tight, the 'belly' of the sail just sits along the boom. I used to tie the reefing lines through the cringles (and never around the boom), but they didn't seem to do anything so I just stopped using them. Good luck, Barry
Tie Sail ONLY!
Tie the lines around the sail only. They are used to "keep things neat". When you tie the points around the boom the stress on the sail is changed as well as shape. If loose footed or not, only tie the sail.
Tie the lines around the sail only. They are used to "keep things neat". When you tie the points around the boom the stress on the sail is changed as well as shape. If loose footed or not, only tie the sail.
Sail only
I've tried it both ways but have come to the conclusion that 'sail only' is better and easier.
I've tried it both ways but have come to the conclusion that 'sail only' is better and easier.
Ross, can't be done.
You are correct Ross. No way to tie the sail only unless you have a loose footed main. Tie the reef lines loosely around your boom, just to keep things ship shape.
You are correct Ross. No way to tie the sail only unless you have a loose footed main. Tie the reef lines loosely around your boom, just to keep things ship shape.
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