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wrote:

Terry Spragg wrote:
If you can pull down the jib (or furl it, not so desirable, for me)
from the cockpit using a downhaul line, reefing the main then
becomes much easier, especially if you can steer the boat should it
stall and go backwards. At this point, the tiller becomes a little
wilful, but steering so as to keep the main almost over the boat
while it is being allowed to drop by it's own weight to be reefed is
not as difficult as it mighty seem.

Rather than the downhaul, why not fit an eye in the luff at the reef
height? Simple hook, block & inexpensive block at the deck makes a
cockpit reef haul at the ready.

That is a possibility, but I meant to impress all with the fact that
it is less hectic to reef the main if you can depower (furl, douse)
the jib easily from the cockpit first. Buy a piece of light line,
bowline it to the top hank of the jib, lead it down to a small block
at the forepeak, lead it back to the cockpit. Hitch the end to a
stanction base or cleat, and you can tame and imprison the jib from
the cockpit in a tornado. Do it first.

If one is inexperienced, or nervous, and alone or with questionable
crew, why not reef in irons? Once the luff has been hauled down the
rest is fairly fast despite the flapping, and if one is nervous or
scared (or starting to head off & heel) one doesn't have to get all of
them tied in one whack, either.

If you sit, or try to sit in irons, the boat will start to go in
reverse. No problem, if you expect it and have practiced steering
while sailing in reverse. If you freak out, the tiller or wheel will
flop hard over one way or the other and the boat will turn with a
will, and perform some gyrations while you cower in the footwell,
unless you take charge.

Better to bag along on a close reach while reefing. The main reef
outhaul should be rigged to the gooseneck, ready to haul out the
reef clew when needed. I have two, permanently reeved and ready to
use. Once back under way, I can snap off the main outhaul purchase,
and snap it on to the reef clew, and really flatten the main. If
desired, all this could be led to the cockpit, along with the main
halyard, for sit-at-home reefing of the main. However, all them
extra turning blocks can cock-up and can make it neccessary to have
a stronger halyard winch, and even a reef tack downhaul winch, all
cluttering up the 'pit, and resulting in a can of worms at your
feet. Reefing from the mast base is more demanding physically, but
it is simpler. Loose the main halyard 2 feet, or to a mark, sieze
the reef tack to the gooseneck, using a short line or a reefing
hook, haul on the reef tack outhaul, retension the main halyard, and
you're done. Under a minute, with practice.

If his luff is sticky or less-than-fast/easy to lower/raise than with
slides, it seems more likely that the boltrope is incorrectly sized for
the mast slot or swollen with age, probably the latter? It should drop
smartly by its own weight when out of the wind. I'd correct that
instead of adding more hardware to screw with, no?

Well, yes! you wouldn't drive a car if the accellerator had a habit
of sticking to the floor would you? The sail should always fall down
of it's own weight in the calm. When wung out in a broach and
snuggled up to a spreader in a ferocious squall, no sail will come
down at all. Keep headed into the wind, or a close reach, and fix
the luff slides.

I would install slides if they are not fitted. Proper slides do not
require lubricant. Reefing with a bolt rope is begging to loose the
whole mains'l into a falling circus tent stunt loose all over the
place, with you the human cannonball inside. The bitter end of the
halyard must be stoppered to the halyard cleat, or you could lose it
in a blow. Proper working luff slides and a slide gate stopper are
essential, as is practice beforehand, and vigilant foresight all
around for weather.

Rigging 2 reef tackles along with a cunningham can get busy, so to
simplify that, I use a downhaul on the goosneck, which is on a short
track. If set up right, the cunningham gooseneck can be used to
stretch the luff wether it is full, or reefed. When reefed, you
would naturally want a flat main. Often, just flattening the jib and
main will substitute for a first reef. Really flat sails can be
flown with little incidence and reduced power, but flying such a rig
would tire out even a woodpecker pretty fast, not to mention
flogging the roach. It takes real concentration.

Most new sailors take too long to master the art of controlling the
power their sails swallow from the wind. One suspects they don't
want to go out in the bay on a fine day and make a spectacle of
themselves, sailing in reverse while reefing, heaveing to 'till it's
second nature, and learn to balance their sails so they can steer
without using the tiller. Once learned, it is like riding a bike
while standing on your head on the saddle, easy as eating cannonball
pie.

Terry K