Setting up reefing lines

[sandycohen]

Hi All -

When I bought my boat, the reefing lines were setup such that they ran from the forward end of the boom (cleat) through the boom, exited the boom on a sheave, ran through a cringle on the main, and back down the opposite side to an eyestrap.

The sail has slits along the foot which I've wondered the purpose of. Recently I saw something that showed a reefing line setup where the slits were used so that the reefing line, after it passed through the cringle, was wrapped around the underside of the boom, through the slit, and tied back to itself.

Is the latter method - wrapping around the boom - inferior? Almost seems better to me, as it spreads the load of the terminating end over much more area then just one eye-strap that wears into the line.

Also, is it acceptable to use your first reef point as a cunningham attachment point?

Thanks

Sandy

[justified]

Sandy
Yes the later method is would be preferred, that is what the slits are for in the foot of your main. There should be one for 1st and 2nd reef. I have seen some booms that have a eye strap on the bottom of the boom so your bowline around the boom doesn't move fore n aft.
Fair winds
Peter

[sandycohen]

Peter - Thanks - any comment on the cunningham attachment point?

[Barquito]

If the first reefing cringle is higher than where the cunningham would be, it will cause more of the luff to be bunched up when the cunningham is tensioned.

For others, my set-up has a boom down-haul. I was considering changing it to a cunningham instead. So if I have a reef in, is the cunningham useless? Can I only tension the luff with the halyard? (may be what OP was asking too)

[sandycohen]

Thanks for the help and input all. I just realized that I cannot change to the wrap around boom method because my reefing lines are only long enough when the sail is up to secure to the eyestrap, without much free end at the gooseneck. i would need to run longer lines to have enough to wrap and bowline at the bitter end.

[justified]

Sandy
How bout putting a separate loop around the boom and then tie your reef line to it, that should give you a couple more inches at the mast. As far as the cunningham ( smart pig) you would not be using it when reefed. Do you have a cringle just a couple inches above the tack point that is where you would attach the smart pig.
Peter