Liam, in answer to your Nonsuch questions...
A Nonsuch will sail along quite nicely in 30kt winds with only one reef. It really needs to be blowing like stink to do two. As far as losing a halyard; I put a barbed treble hook on the flag halyard and send it up and pull the loose halyard down. If you don't have a flag halyard you either have to climb up the stick or pay a crane charge at a marina and have a yard guy retrieve it. Cheers, Bob
A Nonsuch will sail along quite nicely in 30kt winds with only one reef. It really needs to be blowing like stink to do two. As far as losing a halyard; I put a barbed treble hook on the flag halyard and send it up and pull the loose halyard down. If you don't have a flag halyard you either have to climb up the stick or pay a crane charge at a marina and have a yard guy retrieve it. Cheers, Bob