Thanks for the link.
Having been a customer a long time ago - since it was Ulmer Sails, I still receive the email articles from UK Sails. This is also one of the very few "unsolicited emails" that come that are interesting and educational.
Looks like some folks in his niche industry have found a way to engage their (potential) customers without pissing them off.
Sort of a ray of light in an internet world of retail darkness....!
One possibly important point about that reef, tho: they show the foot tied around the boom. These straps should pass under the foot and above the boom top. He does emphasize that they should not be tied so tight as to distort the shape. So he and I will disagree on this detail since his advice about over-tensioning is solid. Also, I learned that the new foot can be a bit above the boom as opposed to trying to get is down that last half a foot. No harm, since the sail is still held at the same two reinforced points either way.
And, then there is the rueful chuckle over the duties of the
crew.... (big sigh) For most of us the most knowledgeable crew person aboard is 'me' and either I am alone, or the other folks present are, even if trying to help, inexperienced or perhaps disinterested in the important nuances. As an ocean-crossing friend has observed, unless you have regular trained crew aboard, you are always single handing. No slight intended, either -- it takes some repeated sailing experience for others to be helpful and know how to help and what pitfalls to avoid.
