Cunningham Cringle on the Leech?

[sailingfool]

Originally Posted by RichH

Two ways to do it and make it work:
1. l-o-n-g reefing hook with a bullet block attached to the eye of the hook ... removes the friction.

2. Goļot 'cringle block' ... a 'bolt-on' block that fits *****IN***** the reef cringle.
http://www.goiot.com/pdf/p48a.pdf
These are soooooo 'slippery' that you can covert from 2-line reefing systems to single line.

Not a bad idea, but it doesn't seem germane to the OP. The OP described the reefing line terminating in a hook that is inserted into the clew grommet...whether its a slick grommet or not can't matter...there's no line moving through the grommet...

Again, attaching a hook to the clew to put in a reef is as bad a deal as struggling to install the reefing line on the back of the sail when its time to use it. I'm not sure my dental plan covers reefing the main.

[RichH]

Originally Posted by sailingfool

Again, attaching a hook to the clew to put in a reef is as bad a deal as struggling to install the reefing line on the back of the sail when its time to use it. I'm not sure my dental plan covers reefing the main.

After doing just that for about 15 years on my last boat, I respectfully disagree. I did all my reefing from the mast (oh horrors). I installed a track for the reefing outhaul, with a moveable cheek block ... and a big reef hook that I repositioned from the first reef clew to the next deeper reef when needed. the sail was full battened so it really did shake all that much when the halyard was slipped when putting in a deeper reef. It worked and didnt require 4 miles of rope back to the cockpit to trip over. :-)

Yes, now I have two reefs back to the cockpit ... and still have (but very seldom) to go forward and manually put in a third reef .... and I abhor those big piles of reefing-rope that clutters the front section of the cockpit. :-)

[Sailormon6]

The practicability of any technique often depends on where it's used and who is doing it. On my previous boat, a 25' coastal cruiser, I also used a single reefing line with a hook on it for about 22 years, but I only sailed it in the sheltered waters of an inland lake. In that venue, it worked fine. Now I sail on the Chesapeake Bay, often solo, and have been in some big winds and seas, (and am in my late 60's), and have no desire to re-rig anything while underway in those conditions. Maybe a younger guy can do it, and maybe it'll work OK on an inland lake, or maybe it's OK for guys who like challenges, but all the bluewater boats I've seen have had separate reefing lines for each reef, and I believe that, if it's generally a good idea, the majority of boats will be rigged that way. On the other hand, what do you save by using one line for all your reefs? You save a little extra line, a couple of blocks, a cleat, and a negligible amount of weight and windage aloft.

[RichH]

I sail the Chesapeake and open ocean. To control a boom from 'slashing' just pull the mainsheet tight so that the boom is centered and held fast, the topping lift (or rigid vang) will oppose the force of the applied mainsheet and keep the boom under control while you 'futz around' with the reefing.

Running reefing lines to the cockpit may be 'convenient' but creates a LOT of clutter in the cockpit, clutter intp which you may become entangled, etc. Nothing wrong with doing all the reefing from the mast ... ya just have to get used to 'going forward' during 'stink' weather instead of 'hiding in the cockpit'.

I will also relate that multiple reefing lines led back to the cockpit are no panacea as when in very high windranges and while reefing you need 4 arms/hands to simultaneously control ALL those lines .... as if you dont, the now loosened and uncontrolled lines can easily wrap around the backstay, etc. when the sail is flogging. Its sometimes much easier/safer to control a 'single' line when the wind/waves are moaning 'banshees'.

[Sailormon6]

I'm not advocating leading the reefing lines to the cockpit. I'm advocating making everything as easy as possible to operate, because everything becomes much more difficult to do when the boat is rocking and rolling in big seas. If you have a separate reefing line for each reef, you don't have to take the time and effort to re-route the reefing line and to readjust the reefing cheekblock in conditions when everything is a struggle and when you only have one free hand to accomplish those tasks, because you need the other hand to hang on. It's faster, easier, and more efficient to have a separate reefing line and a separate cheek block for each reef. I agree that you can use only one reefing line for all your reefs, but the question that should be asked is, "What benefit would you gain by doing it?" To do so will require that you accomplish additional tasks when the conditions become adverse, and the cost of separate reefing lines is negligible.

[sailingfool]

Originally Posted by RichH

I sail the Chesapeake and open ocean. To control a boom from 'slashing' just pull the mainsheet tight so that the boom is centered and held fast, ....

Wow, I think locking the sheet in conditions calling for a reef is asking for trouble. Instead of the boom and sail rocking-and-rolling in unison, the sail does double the dance, and if someone is in-attentive in keeping the boat directly into the wind, wont the boat layover if it falls off?

You are right that the reefing lines create a mess right after lowering the main...but messing around the back of the boom during a reef sounds wild to me. Is it good advice for general consumption?