Why reef at all...?

[L124C]

Originally Posted by tdw

We have three sets of reefs points although I don't keep the third permanently rigged.

I'd have thought that one set was inadequate.

Offshore we would generally go directly to second reef, particularly if it is coming into the evening and we would expect to hold the reef in overnight.
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In the DVD "Sailing In Heavy Weather", one of the commentators makes the point that the further you lower (reef) the main, the more you put unnatural stresses on the mast. His reasoning (in support of using a tri-sail instead) is that the forces generated along the leach are no longer opposed directly by the fore stay.

[capitanissa]

If you don't know how to reef or understand why, then you should not be taking anyone sailing with you.
Where I sail you don't even go out unless you are ready to reef or already have your reef in place; our normal winds are 25-35 knots all summer.
My own boat sails fantastically reefed, I have obtained the best speeds with over 35 knots on a close reach and less than a third of the sail up.
Why should I stress the rigging and rudder needlessly?
After 16 years of sailing in the Greek Islands, I have seen more people in trouble because they think that putting the rails in the water is what you do and I have seen the face of terror on the crew as well.
Here, you just don't temp the gods; the wind can go from 25 to 40 quickly - and stay there. I generally go out reefed, and then decide if I want more sail - I even had my main cut down taking out 2 reefs - three years ago. The boat performs perfectly and I have less worries - I don't mind that I lose a knot or two on the rare low wind day.

[Shadrak]

Originally Posted by smackdaddy

Then I see some dude slogging it with a reefed main and a patch of headsail. I just had to go by and shout obscenities. Just in my genes.

Daddy, when I read your posts I actually imagine Michael Douglas speaking.

[emcentar]

I am just learning how to sail in a 19' Flying Scott. We have had fairly low winds all summer, so a fair bit of my practice has been light-air sailing. (Sometimes very light - I had to paddle the boat back the marina the other week when the wind completely died.)

However, a couple of weeks ago we set out in what started as light air (about 5-10 kts - so we did not have the sail reefed) but once out of the marina, caught some real air - 15-20kts with some puffs that might have been up to 25kts. We had a very inexperienced crew - just the two of us who had just learned how to sail - and neither of us had reefed a sail before.

So I put us on a downwind course (back to the marina) on a broad reach and let out the sail. A good call? Clearly, it would be good for us to practice reefing the main at the marina before we head out again, but are there good suggestions for novices (this is the learning to sail section) if they find themselves ill-equiped for a sudden storm or heavy winds? Are there safer points of sail? Other tips?