Reefing

[Red Horse]

Hi folks.
The question for the day is which to reef first the jib or main on a tri ?
Thanks
Rich

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by Red Horse

Hi folks.

The question for the day is which to reef first the jib or main on a tri ?

Thanks

Rich

Answer: it depends on the size of the headsail

With a self tacking jib you would typically put in a first or even second reef in the main before reefing or striking the jib for a smaller headsail. That’s our situation with a 36sqm self tacking jib and a 86sqm mainsail.

If you have an overlapping genoa then it’s possible that you will need to 20% (or so) reef the genoa before needing to reef the mainsail.

[Emmalina]

Depends on the weather and the boat its not a yes no answer.

[Rumrace]

Reduce the pressure on the outside of the main first by reducing foresail.

[thomm225]

Sailing upwind or downwind?

[Tupaia]

Mast head or fractional rig?

[tamicatana]

Personally, my reefing sked is main first, then jib, then more main, then more jib... and I start at 20kt APPARENT. REEF FOR THE GUSTS. This was the same for my F27GS awa the cat I now have



This isn't bad advice in general, from 'catamaran guru.'

"The best solution is to have a wind speed rule on when to reef that is based on the APPARENT wind speed. This will differ from boat to boat as they all perform differently based on beam and bouyancy. Here is a guideline to get you started.


When you are seeing wind speed between 18 and 20 Knots put in the first reef
When the wind gets to 25 knots it is time for reef number 2
When the wind is constantly at 28 to 30 knots put in the third reef
When the wind is blowing above 30 Knots and gusting, it is time to put the jib away completely and sail with a fully reefed mainsail only
In extreme conditions the fully reefed main can be set up to spill wind by luffing which will enable you to sail in very strong winds without damaging the rig or sails."

[Joli]

Jibs are on furlers, main is slab reefing. We don't reef the jibs, they are either fully open or furled away. Progression is 100% jib and full main till about 27 over the deck. Then we progress through the first two reefs in the main, then furl away the jib and unfurl the staysail in about 36 across the deck. The next step is the third reef in the main and the staysail, this gets us to 55 over the deck when sailing upwind, downwind we strike the main and sail on the staysail.

All boats are different, you have to find what works for you.

[thinwater]

Joli is the first to mention the limitations of furling jibs as a means of reefing. Some are suitable and some are not, and very few boats have a provision for a staysail.

• Unless there is a foam luff the draft is generally pushed well aft and the sail becomes more full. The bigger the sail, and the farther you roll, the greater the problem.
• The lead will probably need to move forward.
• The furler line must be stronger, very low stretch, and set up to resist chafe. The load on the furler line with reefed sail is nearly as high as the sheet load, though the line is much smaller.

Off the wind bad shape does not matter much.

So how do you deal with these problems? I've had sails that roller reefed beautifully and others that were ugly. None were as nice as the hank-on storm sail I had on my first boat, which was flat and high-footed. It was sized a bit large for a true storm sail, making it a wonderful windy day sail.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by tamicatana

"The best solution is to have a wind speed rule on when to reef that is based on the APPARENT wind speed.

...
When you are seeing wind speed between 18 and 20 Knots put in the first reef

Leaves a lot to be desired.

Is that when sailing into wind or downwind?
Is that reef in the headsail or the main?

[LeeV]

On all 4 of my trimarans we’d adhere to the reefing schedule mentioned above, taking our 1st at 18, but we’d reef our Genoa - which had reefing marks - as we reduced the main, which kept everything balanced. Our Code 0 or screecher always came down between 15-18, and the genny would unfurl.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by LeeV

On all 4 of my trimarans we’d adhere to the reefing schedule mentioned above, taking our 1st at 18, but we’d reef our Genoa - which had reefing marks - as we reduced the main, which kept everything balanced. Our Code 0 or screecher always came down between 15-18, and the genny would unfurl.

FWIW, this is the Belize recommendations. Note that it has two different columns depending on apparent wind direction.

[tamicatana]

Originally Posted by StuM

FWIW, this is the Belize recommendations. Note that it has two different columns depending on apparent wind direction.

TL;dr. I’ll stick to my simpler, more conservative reefing schedule, esp given the small deltas in apparent wind on your chart.

According to the brochure for my Catana: (note, angle isn’t mentioned.)

REEF FOR THE GUSTS (apparent wind)
1 reef main, full jib: 20-25
1 reef main, 1 reef jib: 25-30
2 reef main, 1 reef jib: 30-35
2 reef main, 2 reef jib: 35-40
3 reef main, 2 reef jib: 40-45
3 reef main, 3 reef jib: 45-50
3 reef main, furled jib: 50 +

I am either more or less conservative depending on ambient factors.

Experience with the boat, and the individual operator’s skill, has much to do with handling.

YMMV.

[Red Horse]

Thanks for all the help

[Cavalier MK2]

The best help is to remember all boats handle differently so be open to trying different combinations as you sort yours out.