I'm pretty new to this and I'm not sure how to reef the main on my hunter 290.Just got it home it's a 2000 model.Thanks in advance for the help.~george
reefing?
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George:
I depends on how your boat is rigged. Assuming you have single line reefing:
1. Point the boat into the wind.
2. lower your main halyard enough to get to the proper reef point.
3. pull in the reef line.
4. raise the main
5. sail off again.
It is not a bad idea to do this in your slip and make the halyard so you know how much to lower you main halyard (not too much/not too little).
I depends on how your boat is rigged. Assuming you have single line reefing:
1. Point the boat into the wind.
2. lower your main halyard enough to get to the proper reef point.
3. pull in the reef line.
4. raise the main
5. sail off again.
It is not a bad idea to do this in your slip and make the halyard so you know how much to lower you main halyard (not too much/not too little).
If you have slab reefing you might be better off heaving to while doing your reef. Carry a permanent marker with you to mark the halyard for correct location as a reference. Try putting in and taking out your reef on a quiet day so you get some practice at it. The time to learn is before the wind is howling. Once you get the hang of it you will be able to do it in less than a minute.
On Diana I have single-line reefing (though only one reef point). The reefing line leads to the cockpit so the operation can be done from the hatchway. This is the way I recommend it for everyone (and it's on the new C44s as well). I actually have a floating gooseneck so instead of taking up on the halyard after reefing I take down on the downhaul, thus lowering center of gravity and therefore heel. I think any small or light boat should be able to do this.
Also, if properly rigged, reefing can be done without heading up (should be). It depends on how your boat is set up how fast and easily you can do this; but I have 2 rules for reefing the main:
1. If you think it's almost time to reef, it was time to reef 10 minutes ago, so do it now.
2. If you can't slab-reef the main (exclusive of tying up the excess sail) in 45-60 seconds, practice it till you can.
(They're not exactly 'MY' rules; I think I got the first one from Steve Dashew.)
Also, if properly rigged, reefing can be done without heading up (should be). It depends on how your boat is set up how fast and easily you can do this; but I have 2 rules for reefing the main:
1. If you think it's almost time to reef, it was time to reef 10 minutes ago, so do it now.
2. If you can't slab-reef the main (exclusive of tying up the excess sail) in 45-60 seconds, practice it till you can.
(They're not exactly 'MY' rules; I think I got the first one from Steve Dashew.)
Both very good rules. And single line reefing lead to the cockpit is for sure safer. Problem with it is that many of the single line systems have so much friction in them that getting proper tension (and therefore sail shape) becomes very difficult. Switching out some of the blocks to low friction ball bearing blocks will greatly improve this. Also using very low stretch small diameter line such as Spectra will help.
But I suspect that many skippers are reluctant to put a reef in as the wind is building due to all the noise and flogging the sails are going through. This can be intimidating. Heaving to and letting the boat settle down makes all that go away. It's like a piece of tranquility in the midst of confusion. Putting in a reef while hove to is then a calm and much less stressful operation.
But I suspect that many skippers are reluctant to put a reef in as the wind is building due to all the noise and flogging the sails are going through. This can be intimidating. Heaving to and letting the boat settle down makes all that go away. It's like a piece of tranquility in the midst of confusion. Putting in a reef while hove to is then a calm and much less stressful operation.
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