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I've put on my flame retardant suit because this is probably a really dumb question but here goes...
I understand "why" you reef (to reduce sail area thus de-powering the boat when the wind picks up to the point of overpowering you and your boat). And also "how" you reef, (I've done it many times).
But say you're single handing the boat and the breeze picks up... Why would you take the time to point into the wind, lock the wheel, lower the main, put your reef hooks in place, raise the main, re-tighten the main, then go back to the wheel, unlock it and resume sailing.
When presumably you could just let the main out to dump a little more air if you're heading upwind, or bring it in to catch less air if you're going down wind. And just avoid the entire evolution of reefing altogether?
(Assume we're talking about coastal or bay day sailing in a medium duty racer/cruiser type vessel when a typical summer storm pops up... Not a sustained transatlantic trip from Nantucket to the Isle of Wight in the middle of the perfect storm...)
I understand "why" you reef (to reduce sail area thus de-powering the boat when the wind picks up to the point of overpowering you and your boat). And also "how" you reef, (I've done it many times).
But say you're single handing the boat and the breeze picks up... Why would you take the time to point into the wind, lock the wheel, lower the main, put your reef hooks in place, raise the main, re-tighten the main, then go back to the wheel, unlock it and resume sailing.
When presumably you could just let the main out to dump a little more air if you're heading upwind, or bring it in to catch less air if you're going down wind. And just avoid the entire evolution of reefing altogether?
(Assume we're talking about coastal or bay day sailing in a medium duty racer/cruiser type vessel when a typical summer storm pops up... Not a sustained transatlantic trip from Nantucket to the Isle of Wight in the middle of the perfect storm...)