Securing excess sail on reefed main

[kpgraci]

My mainsail has one reefing point, it seems to be placed where the second reefing point would be on sails with two, but there is only a tack and clew crinkle, no intermediate crinkles for securing the flacked sail to the boom.

With tension on the reefing line the foot of the sail holds the flakes in place at dock, but I doubt they would stay that way for long in windy conditions.

Is there any way to secure the sail in place better than that?

 

[dmc]

I have a..................

lazy jack system that holds the excess sail when reefed.

Peace

dmc

 

[RECESS]

I roll the excess sail and then tie off the reef lines that are run through the grommets.

I made this to show someone how to use the jiffy reefing on their O'Day 25. Please excuse my untidiness when reefing. I usually roll it much neater but I usually do not have my wife filming me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH1O-HHtFKc

 

[Warren Milberg]

When I used to race on a friend's Beneteau 285, we never bothered to roll up the reefed sail we just let it hang down. I can recall sailing in 25 kt+ winds like that and the excess sail just hung below the boom. But it sounds like you ought to take your sail to sailmaker and have him add 2 or 3 gromets in line with the ones at the leech and luff to allow you roll and tie off your reefed sail.

 

[Joe]

Tying the grommets in the middle will not add any security to the reef. The stress is all on the tack and clew so you can certainly reef your sail in its current configuration. I don't normally tie up the slabbed excess. Remember, if you do tie it in, forgetting to release them when you shake the reef out can do damage to the sail... those grommets are not designed to take any stress. Many sailors suggest using colored line or webbing for this purpose... making them easy to see so you'll remember to remove them before releasing the clew and tack.

 

[inarathree]

I have been told, never to tie off the loose reefed sail. The grommets in the middle of the sail are not reinforced, and can't take the stress, and would rip the sail. And as mentioned above when we race, we don't tie it up either, and we just let it hang also.

 

[sinnettc]

I use those little bungees with the ball in the end, but not around the boom, just around the excess sail.

 

[kpgraci]

Thanks for the replies. Adding grommets to this old sail is not worth it...sounds like flaking it as best I can and letting it hang if it wants to will work. I'll find out tomrrow.