Hi, Doug

Thanks for reminding me of the old name "fisherman's reef" for the
boom-into-wind rather than bows-into-wind technique!

DSK wrote:

controversy: why do so many people think they should turn on their
engine? Have they all forgotten how to *sail*?

Couldn't agree more. However, generations of sailors have been taught
(usually under relatively benign wind and wave conditions) to turn
their bows straight into the wind when wanting to make major sail
adjustments. When they first try to do that in a big blow they get the
shock of their life when all hell breaks loose, the bow blows off
faster than they can say "o sh$t" and flogging sails can (and will)
selfdestruct in a matter of seconds. Turning on the engine primarily
enables them to keep the bows from blowing off (so they can let the
sails flog even longer......).

When sailing a finkeeler with high bows that blow off fast, such as our
Legend 43, a medium-sized staysail that can be flattened + inboard
sheeted nicely and deployed in an instant is worth its weight in gold.
To raise sail without the use of an engine, even in boisterous
conditions, we just hoist or unfurl the staysail, sheet it in pretty
good and put the vessel on a close-hauled course after picking up a bit
of speed. If the staysail set is any good it should easily prevent the
bows from blowing off by powering up the rudder. Then one can simply
pull the boom to leeward (with the traveler) slack off the mainsheet a
bit and start hoisting the main. In other words, a "fisherman's reef"
in reverse. No mess, no fuss, no slamming and flogging. I wish
sailing instructors would teach that to their pupils, rather than the
mindless, knee-jerk "steering straight into the wind" routine.


This is a decision one has to make in a snap... run off (bear away) or
head up into the wind? One of the factors that I'd consider is the
boat's current point of sail. Anywhere below a beam reach, run off.
Between a beam reach and close reach, it would depend on what sails were
set and the handling characteristics of the particular boat. Above a
beam reach, particularly if close hauled, there is nothing to be gained
by bearing away in a squall and the boat may not answer her helm well
enough if the squall lays her over.

If one is "only surprised" by a squall (i.e. in the sense of perhaps
reefing a bit too late but not completely losing control), I fully
concur with that approach. However, in major "caught off-guard" squall
situations -- e.g. the violent williwaws I described -- the most likely
scenario is that the vessel broaches almost immediately, thereby
loosing its previous point of sail orientation (not to mention the fact
that many types of violent squalls produce a different wind
direction). Now the first concern should be to try and recover from
the broach by slacking off the sheets while the second step is to
decide on the best possible course as soon as the rudder powers up
again.

If the broached vessel has a staysail or smaller jib that can be
sheeted in and flattened in an instance, I would indeed choose to head
up into the wind and use the fisherman's reef approach to drop or reef
the main.

However, if flying a big overlapping genoa before the broach, trying
into the wind may be asking for trouble. Even with a partially furled
large genoa one will probably not be able to point high enough to do a
fisherman's reef on the main. In that case, I would opt for running
off, at least long enough to get the large genoa (or perhaps drifter)
under control rather than to risk damage by flogging.

One issue with furling the jib is that the balance of the boat will change.

I agree. In our case the staysail provided enough balance (while
helping to blanket the genoa as it was being furled). If one does not
have that option, I would advise to leave just enough of the genoa
unfurled to help keep the COE forward of the CLR. Under no
circumstance should one try to pull in on the mainsheet, however, while
running off with little or no headsail under violent squall conditions.
This brings the CEO back and the result is "broach city" (as the next
poster describes).

If you're pulling down the mainsail, wouldn't the sheet be hauled in so
that the crew can reach the boom in the first place?

As explained above, I would only dare to pull the mainsheet in just
enough to get the main off the spreaders while clawing the slides down
at the mast. In our williwaw adventure, I first pulled the luff down
far enough to secure the 3rd reef cringle at the tack and then started
bringing the boom in far enough to rerig the reef lines at the clew.
Under third reef and staysail we then finally turned back into the
squall in order not to lose more hard-won miles. Altogether, we
managed not to break a single batten or slide, let alone tear any
sails.


Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Likewise!

Henk Meuzelaar