Can anyone offer guidance on the pros and cons of adding a reef point in the main sail? If pro, any directions on location of the reef points and rigging? We regularly sail in 15 knots wind, but in 17-18 knots I'd like the option to lower the main just a bit. I have a roller furling jib and that helps.

Thanks

Tad

Thanks all this is very helpful. I'm a member of fleet, 84, established in 2020. We're on Little Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan where August winds kick up into the mid to upper teens and 1-3 ft waves regularly. Fantastic sailing conditions, but a reef in the main will make the pleasure sailing, sometimes with less experienced crew, easier for sure. (If and when (hopefully) we start racing, guess I'll just need to buy a new non-reefed main!)

For those who have installed the reef points, it is best placed at about 12 inches? 16 inches? above the foot of the sail?

Tad

I have two mainsails with reef points in my current inventory.

The first mainsail has reef points located about 41-inches above the foot. I estimate the reef removes approximately 38 sq-ft of sail, or roughly 25% of total sail area. This seems consistent with info Robert posted earlier.

The second mainsail has reef points located about 34-inches above the foot. This corresponds to removing approximately 32 sq-ft of sail, or roughly 20% of total sail area. This is the mainsail we used a few weeks back. It was bought as part of a sail-set package; and I believe the sailmaker selected the reef point location to work with the #2 Genoa.

Hopefully this information is useful for comparative purposes. I'd recommend consulting with a sailmaker to tailor for your particular needs/application. If you pursue, I'd be interested to learn how things turn out (both in making the mod, and in how it performs).

Good luck!!

Steve Wnuk

Sriracha 947

I can relate to your inquiry. Several years ago I was introduced to reefing Ensign mains while crewing as a guest at the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center. They used a jiffy reef procedure. I was impressed with how well the reefed-main boats handled in really stiff breeze. 

Yet many of the mains in our fleet don’t even have reef points. I recently purchased a new main from a well-known national brand and specified reef points. The order was accepted without comment/modification, but the sail arrived without reef points. So, I asked a local rep/sailmaker to install them. He declined, stating (in short) the sail was optimized for racing, and that installing reef points would compromise some of its performance characteristics. I didn’t insist and now in high winds we generally sail with full main and #2 Genoa. 

Roughly two weeks ago our local winds kicked up to the 15-20 kt range, a SCA was issued, and sail racing was curtailed for our fleet. Rather than go home, we rigged and reefed an older mainsail, hanked on the #2 genoa, and went out to see what we could do sailing JAM. Despite the conditions, it was a very comfortable outing. Heel remained reasonable, the boat handled very well and was easy to manage. Boat speed was respectable both up and down wind, often at 5-6 kts. On many points of sail, I found I could release the tiller and have crew steer by sails alone. Maybe we just don’t have the right skill set, but we simply can’t do that (steer by sails alone under high wind conditions) with full main and # 2 genoa sail combination.

I’m a fan of reefed-main/#2 Genoa combination under high wind conditions. I suppose it’s not competitive for racing, yet it’s comfortable and safe for times when cruising with family, are out with inexperienced crew, or simply don’t want to get punished by extreme conditions.  

Steve

Ensign 947

All of the Milwaukee sailing center and a Minneapolis sailing center Ensigns have single reef mains.

Milwaukee now runs both a blade and a larger jib.

It is common to sail reefed with a blade jib In Milwaukee and I wish my personal boat on Peconic Bay had a reefing main. It is typical to get 15-25 mph on summer days and the boat sails great with less canvas.

1149 Puffin has a new mainsail that was made by The Irish Sail Lady here in Saint Augustine .It is loose footed with two reef points. I agree with Zeke about sailing without a reef under a #2 head sail or jib for myself .however one reef is great in 15 knots for novice sailors or two very light sailors.I hardly use reef two because the tide here makes it choppy and even sailing upright we get wet with spray. I have a small dyneema line with a clip attached to the tack ring that allows the tack of reef one or two to be attached instantly reefing can be accomplished hove to or close hauled on a stbd tack with ease while keeping our privilege.

So, I am moving ahead with installing a set of reef points in the mainsail which will reduce square footage by about 18-20%. Bacon Sails of Annapolis is doing the work. Still working on final details, but in discussion of the sail setup they've asked me:

"Do you plan to have the reef line come down and go to blocks or other hardware on the sides of the boom or do you intend to tie the end around the boom?  Because your sail has a boltrope on the foot, if you plan to tie the reef line around the boom we need to install a reinforced slit above the bolt rope for the line to pass through."

Any thoughts on adding the slit or best to tie off the reef line on blocks/hardware at the aft end of the boom? If block/hardware, any recommendations on set up?

Thinking is also that they'll add several reinforced slits just above the boltrope along the boom to gather and tie down the sail while reefed. Again, necessary given the boltrope.

Appreciate the thoughts and comments.

Tad Asbury

Yonder #1515

I wrap reefing lines around the boom capturing excess sail material under reefing lines on side of boom. No slits in my boltrope-footed mainsail. Have not noticed any chaffing or unusual sail wear.

Steve

Ensign 947

Sriracha

I recommend less holes in the sail .

a pad eye and a cheek block at the boom end led to a cleat on the STBD side mid boom will allow you to reef close hauled or hove to on a STBD tack.

place the pad eye a bit further than reef 1 to allow for proper foot tension.

A single line from pad eye through a dogbone at the leach and through that cheek block to the cleat.

the tack can be clipped or tied at the gooseneck.

it takes less than a minute to reef this way and you never loose your privilege.

Very helpful guidance, thank you.