Who really reefs down there sails??

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w0nko

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May 3, 2005
37
- - Beavercreek, OH
Hi. I'm w0nko... and I'm a reefer

It all started when I took our "new" Venture 21 out for shakedown last weekend. The wind on our little lake was 5 to 15 gusting to 25 with wind direction changes of 90 degrees every 3 minutes or so. I hadn't sailed in 19 years, and my 3 crewmembers hadn't ever sailed before. I was weak; I took a reef. And then I took another. I know myself; I'll probably reef again....
 
J

JimmyC

Force 10

Read "Fastnet Force 10" Real stories of real sailors reefing all the way to bare poles.
 
May 6, 2004
916
Hunter 37C Seattle
We were double reefed

when we left the dock and sort of crashed upon returning to the down-wind slip, lost and broke some stuff along the way. Great Day.
 
G

Gene Smith

You said it!

That's why they make chocklate and vanilla! Better for the 'lubbers to stay in port when it pipes up Force 3, than for them to whack our yachts trying to get in or out of their slips!!! Pass them a Coors Light on your way out!!!!
 
W

William

Seen you out there!

I've seen some of you cruisers out there with a roller furling out part ways and the main tucked in the sail cover. It's easier I'm sure than reefing the main. I've also had strange looks from sailors looking at my sextant and questioning why? I don't have any answers, but happy sailing to all!
 
Feb 26, 2004
22,986
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
I do

I'm not in the picture because I was hiding under the dodger! The jib is a recut 100 down to an 85 blade. Blowin' 25+. Beautiful sail!!!
 
Mar 12, 2005
55
- - jacksonville
just to be clear

Wow, quite a responce. Just to be clear, i was not saying i dont, it was more in the line of looking at so many magazines where they talk about the need of reefing and yet they are not in the pictures. All so I am on the river out here almost every weekend and just never see any one reefed, in a previous post some one had made a comment regarding a picture where no one was reefed and it was quite stormy, that just made me think of it. Quite a post though.. Hope my writing style is better this time Brooke but I was not awear we were back in GRAMMER school. But thanks any way. Hope I didn't miss any periods.
 

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,162
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
Hey Scuba,

Your thoughts are interesting, it's your presentation that needs a little work. Perhaps a spell checker is in order.
 
L

LeeC - H240

Not grammar school but...

...proper spelling and punctuation certainly makes it easier for others to read and understand.
 

Phil Herring

Alien
Mar 25, 1997
4,922
- - Bainbridge Island
We interrupt this discussion

...to request that we not have the spellchecker/grammar/punctuation discussion. Trust me, you'll find it in the archives. Remember that we all have different talents and let's show some tolerance for those who don't share yours.
 
Jun 2, 2004
1,438
Oday 25 pittsburgh
I typed this then deleted it

because I thought it was harsh. However,Tact is something some of you are missing. Oh, that's right either you have it or you don't. For some of us spelling comes hard. Yes, you have struck one of my nerves. I have to work especially hard to spell. Many physical things come easy for me but spelling never has. I often revert to simple language so that I do not misspell. Joe you said it, interesting Ideas but poor presentation. You understood the Ideas, is this not enough? I believe a little tack is in order. For those who spell easily, comments about spelling cut deep to those of us who do not spell well. Ok, I have blown it off...... Joe, Brooke, this is a sailing forum and all are welcome. I do not want to drive off good thoughts and advice by commenting on spelling and punctuation. This forum has no spell check . If it did it would make my life easier. Scuba, It does improve your credibility if you work a bit a spelling. I have to read and reread my stuff before I post it then go back and edit the rest of the mistakes. For me I think it is wasted time but I know that misspelling is a fettish for some people. I am out to give the best advice I can about sailing, and to be credible. I have the knowledge but not the spelling ability. Partly because I work with my hands all day and not with paperwork. Let's sail r.w.landau
 
Feb 26, 2004
22,986
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
No spell check?

OK, Phil, I am NOT going there. However, folks, there is the ieSpell checker, available online, somewhere, I forget because I did it so long ago. Try a Google on ieSpell, and it's a simple download. It also uses a simple right click on the mouse or trackball. Very helpful for ALL web based typing. And it's as free as the wind! It ain't gonna help my grammar or theirs, etc., but is sure helps most of the other things. Only thing it won't do is clean up my sticking "e" key. Any ideas out there to fix that? OK, I'll turn the keyboard over and shake it again. :) Answer: go sailing........ *5 And reef when it's windy.
 

DaveP

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Jun 2, 2004
29
Macgregor 26D Rogersville on the Tenn Tom Waterway
Spell Check ?

If you cant read it dont reply to it ..... simple ........ everyone makes mistakes Dave
 
M

Mark Burrows

Media images

On Wednesday, we had a last minute addition to our race crew who had never sailed before. He had signed up on a Crew List because he was new to the area and had seen lots of boats out his window. (wish I had THAT view) As we were teaching him the finer points of sitting on the rail and cranking a winch (both ways), he noted that there was a lot more intense activity than he had seen on TV and in magazines (still images?). That actually makes sense. TV is only starting to find ways to show what is involved in sailing a boat. Advertisements (as noted in other threads) tend to show a lot of calm sailing to get you to buy insurance and drugs. The ads in sailing magazines are designed to show the boat in the best light and want you to think "I'd like to be there!" Not typical 1 or 2 reef situations. (I respond to these images by thinking "Boy that looks like a lot of work. I'm glad I'm not there!" or "I bet that guy's pants are full of water. Better him than me...") Now if you don't see people reefing on the water, it may be because A) the boat doesn't need it or B) The crew doesn't know how or that it should reef. Hunters tend to not be in the A) situation. Cruising sailors tend to go for comfort and reefing provides that. New Hunter owners seem to be less experienced than used boats or more expensive brands. Hunter markets its boat in a way that make it look easy and comfortable (lots of interior images and people drinking in the cockpit... sign me up). That lack of experience would explain the slowness to reef as well. So there you go. Why what you see in the media matches what you see on the water. The logic is incontrovertible (polysyllabic word thrown in for effect). Markdb
 
M

Mark

Couldn't resist

The attached picture shows a new and an old Hunter ad photo. Depending on who your are and what you want, you will be attracted to one photo more than the other. Which do you like and why?
 
L

liam wald

Reefing is okay

I reef as often as needed to maintain a balanced rudder and an angle of heel that doesn't cause the boat to "plow" through the water. In doing so I generally find that, although it doesn't seem like it, the boat is actually going faster. Additionally there is less stress on the rig and the crew is happier.
 
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