Reefing Mainsail

Moderator: GreenLake

Reefing Mainsail

Postby Guest » Fri Feb 19, 1999 1:00 am

When sailing my DS 1 in winds over 12-15 mph it heels over more than my crew will tolerate. The boat has simple rigging: no boom vang and the boom is sheeted straight to the centerboard box, not through a traveller at the stern. Would reefing points help with this by reducing the sail's size? The sail does not have any reefing points but there is a kit for $38 in the "Sailrite" catalog that looks like it would work. Would this be a good idea?

R. Cole (cole-at-bji.net)
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Postby Guest » Sat Feb 20, 1999 1:00 am

Yup, without a vang and traveler it is hard to keep the sail flat without over-powering the main. Reducing the SA is the way to go. I had a sailmaker add reef points (I chose 5 feet up the luff for 60% SA) and it has made a world of difference in high-wind boat handling. Search this site, for another reefing option, ("roller-reefing") available on some DSers. You will sail upwind faster, point higher, and have a happier crew if youÆre not "sailing on your ear".

Fair Winds


John C (pf_flyer_1-at-yahoo.com)
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