How many reefs

[Ocklepoint]

I'm considering buying a new mainsail.

What do people think, two or three sets of reefing points ?

My present one has two sets of reefs. The upper one being about half way towards the crosstrees( a bit above the bottom batten)

I have seen a similar boat, Invicta 26, with three sets, the top set being just below the crosstrees.

Is it practical to have three sets of clew outhauls permanently rigged ?

Would a triple reefed main set properly ?

I sometimes sail by myself ; less sail is always better than more sail; I don't as yet have lazy jacks or a stack pack

Cheers

[Telo]

I'd give it a try, although I doubt if having three permanently rigged clew outhauls is much of an option. Assuming you're not singlehanded, it would probably take a couple minutes in a blow to re-rig for the 3rd reef, but that would really depend on how you started that passage - if you know it's going to be in a blow before you set out, you could perhaps rig for the second and third reefs. Don't suppose there's any harm in giving it a go.

[Nick]

.
We have three reefs permanently rigged with the clew outhauls going forward along the boom then being led back to the cockpit, and it isn't a problem - just takes a while to tidy up or to pull all the lines through again when unreefing, but reefing itself is quick and simple.

(Having said that we rarely use the 1st reef, often going straight to two and hanging on to the full genoa)

If anything our third reef is not deep enough. When it is in the head of the sail comes to about a foot above the crosstrees - I would prefer to see the head of the sail at the crosstrees when it is in use.

Our sail sets fairly well with the third reef in, with just a slight tendency for the leech to motor a little bit between the top and third battens.

[Arghiro]

Naw, just get yersel' a ketch. Only one big reef - just furl the main & off you go!

[DaveS]

I'm considering buying a new mainsail.

What do people think, two or three sets of reefing points ?

My present one has two sets of reefs. The upper one being about half way towards the crosstrees( a bit above the bottom batten)

I have seen a similar boat, Invicta 26, with three sets, the top set being just below the crosstrees.

Is it practical to have three sets of clew outhauls permanently rigged ?

Would a triple reefed main set properly ?

I sometimes sail by myself ; less sail is always better than more sail; I don't as yet have lazy jacks or a stack pack

Cheers

Well, I have 3 reefs permanently rigged, and I use each of them as required. I too single hand a fair bit, and greatly prefer to have both luff and leech pennants led back to the cockpit. Including Cunninghams, that makes 8 bits of string to look after, so the system really needs to be tidy, but it works for me. I would agree with Nick that the real problem is getting a small enough area when it's blowing, so would definitely go for a third, deep reef.

Of course if it's deep it's likely to be either completely out of reach when the 2nd reef is pulled in, or just reachable on tiptoe. I really don't like the idea of trying to thread reefing lines through overhead cringles while the boat's bouncing about - as it will be if you want the third reef! Besides, we all know that having more string to play with makes sailing more fun!

[FullCircle]

Fortunately, we have single line reefing led back to the cockpit on all 3 reefs, but it is heavy, and has a fair bit of friction in it.
Our 3rd reef line is 37m end to end!

I havent had chance to set it in a real blow (hope not to either) but in 30 knots of wind, it seemed to set OK, and was pulling the boat along, albeit with a large loss of pointing ability, as we had the Genny furled to match it. Not much of an experiment, but gave me a bit of confidence it would work.

Oddly, I didnt set the storm jib on the forestay at the same time!

[Silkie]

I've only got two but would definitely specify three on a new sail, if I was ever in a position to buy such a thing.

[sahona]

I've only got one. It all depends on the boat, doesn't it.

[Ocklepoint]

Just had a quote for this years insurance, up despite a No claims Bonus

So

instead of getting a new sail I might take the old one to the sailmaker and get a price for another set of reefing points. Perhaps a false economy.

Still not sure about the permanent rigging question: not so happy with the acrobatics of rigging a third line when its needed but also not so happy about all that extra string, maybe the Shard plan of thinking ahead is the way to go.

(afloat in two months)

[claymore]

Whit a pile o' jessies.
Yin reef - nae strings attached, jest pit yin in when ra breeze increases beyond the point of gentle - say aboot 37 knots....

[Arghiro]

Whit a pile o' jessies.
Yin reef - nae strings attached, jest pit yin in when ra breeze increases beyond the point of gentle - say aboot 37 knots....

Yer a wimp yersel' - 37kts, you'll not even get the washing dry at that.

[DaveS]

Yin reef - nae strings attached....

Weel, yer avatar pictur thingie shows at least twa reefs ...

[claymore]

Jings Davie - ye've the eyes o' a lavvie rat