Reefing the Genny?

Benny17441 · Sep 22, 2014

The genoa looses its shape and efficiency and the point of effort is raised. I would not recommend it as a foul weather tactic but it can be reefed for lazy sailing to gain visibility and to facilitate tacking.

Stu Jackson · Sep 22, 2014

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,7704.0.html

I'm always amazed why people type "genny" when "genoa" is exactly the same amount of keystrokes.

Scotty C-M · Sep 22, 2014

I reef my genny (Hi, Stu) during heavy weather. At 20+ knots I roll it up to about 90*. At 25+ knots I pull it in to about a postage stamp. I also reef the mast furling a similar amount. It is not as efficient as a sail cut to that size/shape. However, it steadys the boat nicely and gives a proper amount of drive. I know that you can have a foam piece added to the sail's luff to give it better shape when furled. One concern would be to not stretch the sail out of shape. Furl more. This all asumes that your boat has sufficient strength in it's basic structure, the lines and the sail cloth itself.

This tactic may not be to everyone's preference, and would depend on the type of sailing you do (long voyage or short hops) and on other personal choices. Still, in my experience, furling is an option.

mitiempo · Sep 23, 2014

Leprecaun said:
Hello All,
I have participated and read several threads on reefing the main ( just installed a single and works great). I would like to hear thoughts/advice on reefing the Genny. Somewhere I read that this should never be done. I have a 150 on a Newport 28.
Comments/Instruction/Advice?
Thanks much in advance,
Best, ST

Do you mean reef with a roller furler or with reef points a few feet up from the bottom of the sail? The latter works well if the sail is properly built - the former not so much as the draft is moved to the sail area not furled.

capta · Sep 23, 2014

We keep our genoa stashed in the forepeak and in 3 years could have used it maybe half a dozen times, down here. So our Yankee is our go to headsail and the few times we've reefed it on the furler, I've not been at all happy with the results. It appears to be stretching the sail all out of shape, so we don't do it any more.
I suppose if you sail where a 120/150 is not overkill most of the time, it makes little sense to suggest a smaller working head sail, and you really have little choice but to reef the sail at whatever the long term cost. That was the really nice thing about hanked on sails and buying a boat with 23 bags of sails, back when, but changing headsails 5 times on a day sail was a tad bit tiring.

py26129 · Sep 23, 2014

We use the roller furler all the time to reduce the genoa (Hi Stu) to the desired sail area. A foam luff can help maintain sail shape but is not strictly necessary.

If it's good enough or Webb Chiles on on his 5th circumnavigation, then it's good enough for me.

Mastt

kito · Sep 23, 2014

I sure hope I can reef my geni

. I just bought a new Profurl just for that purpose. I had an old Schaefer non-reefing cable luff furler.............

Stu Jackson · Sep 23, 2014

(Hi Stu)

Too Funny.

While my link linked back to a classic post from this very forum, it does have some validity, most likely to those of us who sail where there's almost always wind, and for some, too much!

But, IIRC, one of the skippers in that link was in the PNW and found his Ericson performed BETTER with a 90% than a bigger jib. Go figger.

I've found, for me, after sailing here since 1983 on my own boats, that even with roller furling I don't ever reef my jibs: I have a 95 for the high wind summers and a 110 for lighter wind winter sailing.

A friend in Chicago just dumped his 155 for a 140, 'cuz on Lake Michigan a 155 can be fine for gentle winds, but ya just never know what's coming, with afternoon thunderstorms.

OTOH, many skippers like to reef their genoas and find it works fine for them, even though many of use suggest that they reef their mains first.

I've read it all, here and on other forums.

It all comes down to what works for YOU.

Your boat, your choice.

Right, Scotty?

Scotty C-M · Sep 23, 2014

Your boat, your choice.

shemandr · Sep 23, 2014

I initially thought the OP was about slab reefing the Genoa. Now I'm not sure.
I once had a 135 that had reef points, and cringes for slab reefing. It was kind of a pain to put in but it lowered the point of effort, resulting in less heeling and a more comfortable ride. Of course it was hanked on so if it was windy I would more like put the 110 up.

bffatcat · Sep 23, 2014

genoa reefing

I dont partially roll a genoa The reasons are obvious look at most of the posts on this thread I did do it when I had a hank on jib but that was with points. It was a PITA It consisted of partially lowering the jib to the deck and tying in a bunch of points. If someone has figured out a practical way to reef a roller furling genoa with points and without rolling it up Im interested

Ward H · Sep 23, 2014

Does the weight of the sail material need to be taken into consideration?

I was once told it was better to use a smaller jib (100%) than a 135 or 150 furled to 100% due to high winds because the larger sail was made of lighter material and would be more susceptible to damage/wear out quicker.

bffatcat · Sep 23, 2014

smaller jib

I don`t think cloth weight has anything to do with it. A smaller 100% jib`s cloth is usually heavier than, a larger jib. Take in to account that the smaller jib will be used in heavier air

tommays · Sep 23, 2014

I got the foam luff thing and MY 150 seems to reef just fine and my furling boom also works

kito · Sep 23, 2014

So what do you do when the wind picks up? Roll it up and double reef the main? I would think some headsail is better than none at all.

justsomeguy · Sep 23, 2014

Leprecaun said:
I am not familiar with the "foam luff thing". What exactly is that, where do I get one, and how is it installed?
Tham
Thanks much!

Do you use a headsail furler that can reef?

Stu Jackson · Sep 23, 2014

Leprecaun said:
I am not familiar with the "foam luff thing". What exactly is that, where do I get one, and how is it installed?

Google is your friend in this regard. It's material sewn into the sail at the luff behind the foil on the furler, it is supposed to keep the body of the sail in better shape than without it. Go to any sailmaker's website and noodle around.