When do you reef?

[CO Editorial]

When do you shorten sail? do you base you decision on wind strength, heel, or combined wind and sea conditions? Do you consider your boat tender, or do you know how to tame it? Share your reefing techniques here, then vote in this week's Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page.

 

[Gary Jensen]

reef time

Reef time is any time since I have in mast furling main.I have infinite reef points with the system. I just face the wind and crank (winch) in as much as I want. That is the best part of the system, other than not having a main sail cover to worry about....

 

[Bob Robeson]

To reef or not to reef!

We have a 1986 C-36. We sail in the Columbia River (Portland, Or) area where it does get quite gusty!I reef or take down my main on anything above 20 kts. If I think it may blow to 20 or so, I do not even put up the main. I have hit over 8 kts with just 1/2 a jib in 20+ kts, it heals very little and is about as fast as a 36 is going to go anyway!I think our 36 is very predictible and I like the way she sails under any wind condition, I am a cruiser not a racer, so she is not pushed very hard.She is very stiff, when reefed, or on just partcial jib.Bob

 

[Dave Dahl]

Reef vs Heel

The books I have read and the racers I have been with tell me that when the sailboat is heeling more than 15 deg the drag is beginning to slow the hull and the main is spilling too much wind. In a recent race we lost the jib halyard,put on alternate in 10 min and came in 2nd by only 1.5 min....with areefed main.........

 

[Hayden Watson]

It depends on apearent wind angle

With a tall rig and 150% roller reefing genoa I reef fairly often. If I am close hauled, I reef when the gusts hit 18 -19 or the sustained is over 16. If I’m on a broad reach, I will leave everything out up to 25 to 30. I have a double reef on the main and last year I sailed a lot with double reefs and partially furled genoa (we saw winds to 40 + knots last year.) My gauge is how hard I have to work to keep the angle of heel to about 15 degrees. I would rather reef and keep good sail shape than ease the main till it is backwinded and the jib is luffing. The boat moves much better when the sails are working the way they are suppose to.If I don’t expect the high wind to last very long I will roll up part of the jib and ease the main a bit. The boat isn’t as fast this way but it is much easier.I have marked my main halyard with sizing thread at both of the reef points. To reef all I need do is let the halyard out to the mark and pull down the jiffy reef and cunningham. It takes less than a minute and makes the crew oh so much happier. (You all realize that a happy crew translates into many more days sailing, right???)Hayden Watson1988 C30 tr/bsPapillonSpokane, WA

 

[Frank Casey]

Angle of Heel and Wind

I sail a C-30 Tall Rig on an open fresh water lake and I agree with others that you reef to maintain that optimum 15 degree angle of heel (and yes, that is comfortable as well as efficient). That generally happens when the apparent wind speed is 16 or greater for the tall rig. I do not agree with the notion of sailing under jib alone in these conditions. The center of effort goes too far forward, you lose control and it's just not good for the standing rigging on the long term. You may not be as pretty as you would be with everything hanging out, but your sailing day will be a lot more comfortable without everything inside coming unglued.

 

[CO Editorial]

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 6/25/2000:When do you reef?  33% 16-18 kts (66) 32% 19-21 kts (65) 17% 22 or more (35) 07% 13-15 kts (15)