reefing down from the cockpit

[geoffreyrawson]

I am an old guy in Australia with some 2 up ocean cruising experience. I want to try solo distance cruising and have a self-furling headsail but must reef the main at the mast. Want to alter so I can do it from the cockpit for safety. Ican imagine transferring 2 winches at the mast to the cockpit but don't imagine dropping a sail with lazy jacks will hold it down and also how to work reef attachment points at the forward end of the sail from the cockpit?
Cost is important so in-mast and boom rollers would seem to be out!

[sigmasailor]

Why don't you install a standard one line slab reefing system on your main.
The one line is tied to the boom end (under the reefing point), goes op to the reefing point, down and into the back of the boom, to the front of the boom, up to a pulley to the forward reefing point of your sail, down again and to a stopper and winch.
When properly set (the boom need some pulleys as well) up it is simple and reliable (KISS principle).

[FSMike]

You can do the same with two lines, one for the luff, one for the leech. More strings that way but less friction.

[chinook88]

hey jeffrey
I am older as well and sail a 25 foot binks on westerport melbourne I am about 1/2 way thru setting up my reefing system as i go out alone quite a lot
Chinook88

[Jeff_H]

I single-hand a lot and so for the better part of 25 years now, I have modified my boats to permit at least two reefs from the cockpit. I have always gone with two line reefing having found too many problems when sailing on boats with single-line reefing in terms of friction, speed of application, the inability to get proper sail shape, and reliabilty. The two line reef set up is simple and not all that expensive.

For the tack, there is a single line that is tied tight at the gooseneck, passes up through the reef cringle, back down through a shackle at the gooseneck to a block at the deck and then back aft through the organizer to a rope clutch and a winch. I typically buy a longer line for the clew line than came with the boat, (and recycle the old clew line as the new tack line), add a block at the deck and run the clew line back to through the deck organizer to a rope clutch and then to a winch. Again, it requires a longer halyard, but I run it aft through a block at the deck through the organizer, to a rope clutch and to the same winch.

You will need one clew line and one tack line and their associated hardware for each reef.

The key to using this system is to mark the halyard. I typically use a whipping so I can feel it in the dark. I get everything ready to go and then drop the halyard to the mark, pull in the clew, ease the vang (I think you folk call it a boom strop or kicker which is also lead aft) and then pull in the clew line. Depending on the wind and point of sail, the whole business takes roughly a minute to two on my 38 footer and can be done on almost any point of sail.

Jeff

[sailingdog]

Originally Posted by FSMike

You can do the same with two lines, one for the luff, one for the leech. More strings that way but less friction.

Also far better control over the reefed sail shape.

[SVAuspicious]

How old is old? I'm 50 and continue to sail single-handed with all reefing at the mast. As long as you have a good and reliable autopilot and hook-on to jacklines the speed and low friction of mast-based reefing is a good deal.

[geoffreyrawson]

Many thanks everyone on the reefing problem. I will make up a model to understand advantages etc of the several suggestions.

[montenido]

Man, I hope 50 isn't old because I am 51, and just became a boat owner 2 years ago! I single-hand all the time and just made a deposit on the cleanest Catalina 36 you will ever see (besides new).

I don't feel old, and have the single-slab reefing on the new boat.

Let's get out on the water!

Bill

[cb32863]

Would be nice to see some diagrams of these reefing systems. Not sure age really has anything to do with it either, just easier to do. Not everyone has autopilots, etc...