Our new main sail has a second reef point, so I'm revisiting our reefing system as I think about rigging it. Thus, a couple rookie-ish questions (I know, this is likely a religious war second only to anchoring...)
Previously, we've used a single-line reefing system, with the line led back to the cockpit. It seems to work smoothly, so I have no real complaints; but after a bit of reading, I'm coming to understand the advantages of double-line reefing (most importantly, greater control of the clew tension). But 2 double-line systems could be a lot of string running around the deck.
1) Is it possible (and sensible) to reuse the Cunningham for the 2nd reef tack line? In this system, anytime we put in the first reef, I'd pull the Cunningham hook and put it in the 2nd reef cringle. If we need to reef further, we'd use the Cunningham as our tack line. The Cunningham is attached at the mast base, so its angle might differ slightly from a block on the boom, but the sail slugs shouldn't let the sail move aft anyway. Good thought? Crazy / bad thought? It only saves one line, but it seemed worth considering.
2) More generally, where and how do other more experienced C-22 sailors like to run their reefing lines? I currently have 6 lines led aft to the cockpit (including 1 reefing line). Moving to 2-line reefing and adding the second reef point could add as many as 3 more, which seems like a lot. I could:
A) Run all lines aft (lots of line on the deck)
B) Stick with single-line for the first reef and run 2 lines for the second reef to the mast (1st reef from the cockpit, 2nd at the mast).
C) Cleat the 2nd-reef clew line on the boom and reuse the Cunningham as described above (1st reef from the cockpit, 2nd requires a trip to the mast and cleating on the (moving) boom.
D) Some combination or variant of the above
E) Something I haven't thought of at all...
Thanks
Previously, we've used a single-line reefing system, with the line led back to the cockpit. It seems to work smoothly, so I have no real complaints; but after a bit of reading, I'm coming to understand the advantages of double-line reefing (most importantly, greater control of the clew tension). But 2 double-line systems could be a lot of string running around the deck.
1) Is it possible (and sensible) to reuse the Cunningham for the 2nd reef tack line? In this system, anytime we put in the first reef, I'd pull the Cunningham hook and put it in the 2nd reef cringle. If we need to reef further, we'd use the Cunningham as our tack line. The Cunningham is attached at the mast base, so its angle might differ slightly from a block on the boom, but the sail slugs shouldn't let the sail move aft anyway. Good thought? Crazy / bad thought? It only saves one line, but it seemed worth considering.
2) More generally, where and how do other more experienced C-22 sailors like to run their reefing lines? I currently have 6 lines led aft to the cockpit (including 1 reefing line). Moving to 2-line reefing and adding the second reef point could add as many as 3 more, which seems like a lot. I could:
A) Run all lines aft (lots of line on the deck)
B) Stick with single-line for the first reef and run 2 lines for the second reef to the mast (1st reef from the cockpit, 2nd at the mast).
C) Cleat the 2nd-reef clew line on the boom and reuse the Cunningham as described above (1st reef from the cockpit, 2nd requires a trip to the mast and cleating on the (moving) boom.
D) Some combination or variant of the above
E) Something I haven't thought of at all...
Thanks