Reefing Lines Always Ready ?

[nv5l]

Sorry if this has already been answered -- I couldn't find it.

I'm setting up jiffy reefing, but concerned with chafe. All lines are external and routed back to the cockpit. Should I remove the lines from the sail, say coiled at the mast, when not needed or leave them up and ready to go all the time. Or perhaps some combination based on the forecast?

Right now, i'm just leaving them up, but what do you do?

[boris]

I always have the first two reefs ready

[GordMay]

My reefing lines (control & ties) were always rigged.

[Factor]

Single line reefing - always ready to go, can have a reef in in 20 seconds without leaving the cockpit

[holmek]

I have sailed a 5 year circumnav. and always had my reefing lines rigged all the time. Chafe is something that the cruising sailor watches constantly. Not just reefing lines but all lines. Watch that there is enough slack so that they are not rubbing hard on the sail but swing away a little.

[MarkJ]

Hi Don,

Its very difficult to run the reefing lines while the sail is up. So if you are caught in a squall you will not be able to reef, you will only be able to drop the sail.

I want and ned the ability to reef fully whenever I am out, but also when I am at anchor. The last resort when anywhere on the boat is to be able to sail out of trouble. You can't do that if the boat is nobbled.




Mark

[daddle]

Originally Posted by boris

I always have the first two reefs ready

This seems backwards. If away from harbor you might consider having the last two reefs in as the first reef might be rigged with the second in. But it is nearly impossible to rig the third, in third conditions, with only the first and second rigged.

[nigel1]

Same, reef lines always rigged, and adjusted so not too tight when not reefed, nor too slack that they slop around

[swagman]

Originally Posted by daddle

This seems backwards. If away from harbor you might consider having the last two reefs in as the first reef might be rigged with the second in. But it is nearly impossible to rig the third, in third conditions, with only the first and second rigged.

It's not really as backwards as it sounds but I'm pretty sure no one would like to try and run the third reef lines in the kind of conditions you need to use them. Its usually done beforehand.

So we too tended to sail most times only with 2 reefs ready to go, and only rigged our third when we were either about to embark into heavy weather or onto a passage that we knew was going to take us beyond a safe weather window.

Cheers
JOHN

[Auspicious]

I keep all three reefs rigged offshore and while actively cruising. For day sailing on Chesapeake Bay I keep only the first reef reeved.

[smurphny]

My "jiffy reefing" lines are rigged all the time as well. The lines may inhibit air flow a little bit but they need to be ready. There really would be little chance to thread them in reliably enough when needed with the sail and boom flapping about. Chafe has never been an issue.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by nv5l

Sorry if this has already been answered -- I couldn't find it.

I'm setting up jiffy reefing, but concerned with chafe. All lines are external and routed back to the cockpit. Should I remove the lines from the sail, say coiled at the mast, when not needed or leave them up and ready to go all the time. Or perhaps some combination based on the forecast?

Right now, i'm just leaving them up, but what do you do?

Always have your boat ready to reef. The more trouble it is to do it, the more you will put it off. You and your crew should practice. If you have a good system, you should easily be able to reef in 15 seconds or less.

[roverhi]

We did more than 10,000 miles with the reefing lines rigged. No chafe on the sail that I noticed. Don't have the lines so loose they are flying around and you should have no problems.

I wouldn't want to be hanging off the flogging boom trying to run the clew reefing lines in time of real need. My life is worth a bit more to me than an uncluttered main.

[rebel heart]

Reefing lines always rigged, first reef (or more) set at night.

[Unicorn Dreams]

Always Ready