Decided to take "Ragtime" (28' S2) out today to test my new
single line reefing on reef #2. Wind in town was light from NW, at the
coast was maybe 15 kts from NW, 4 miles out the anemometer said 18-22.
Being single handed, I took it easy and used mostly a single reefed
main with the furler with maybe a 75% jib. Set out on a course of 125
going nearly dead downwind for awhile, then SW on a long beam reach
where the GPS read 7.0-7.1 kts for nearly 20 minutes, amazing for a
28' boat with fixed 3 bladed prop. My prop was spinning like crazy
in neutral. Finally, a long close hauled slog back home. At first it
was a little wet but smoothed out as I got closer to shore where the
wind was from. I even had to let out more jib to balance her. It was
a nice short sail
When I got back in I realized I had not changed my oil in a long time
so I did it. This is another good point about the S2 because there
such good engine access that I can change the oil in 15 minutes. In
fact, I took out the old 1GM and put in the 2GM almost by myself last
year.
The only real drawback to the single line reefing is that I have to
pull in a LOT of reef line to get her reefed. My first reef is a two
line system which is really easier.