When single handing (tiller boat, no auto helm) or even when sailing with the admiral, reefing is not an option for me unless I choose to do it when raising the main. I confess that I do furl the jib when needed and will also just spill a little air from the main to the point of a mild luff when needed to control heel in the gusts. I have yet to experience excess weather helm. We don't fly our Kevlar jib on the furler any more just so I have the option of reducing head sail if needed. I'm sure it is not made for that but it works. We have also gone out a few times on just the jib (135%) and the boat handles very nicely in that configuration. Never tried just the main but my guess is that she would be rather unbalanced and really push hard on the rudder in a stiff breeze.
Full disclosure: We don't race. well not when the other boats think we are. From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Edd Schillay via CnC-List Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2014 10:59 AM To: Paul Baker; cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Furl 1st or Reef 1st ? I've been told by sailmakers that partially furling your sail is very, very bad for the sail, especially on racing sails where the stress loads are designed to be in particular places. That being said, when I was in a race and was suddenly faced with a 40-mph storm, furling was the easiest and fastest way to reduce sail. All the best, Edd Edd M. Schillay Starship Enterprise C&C 37+ | Sail No: NCC-1701-B City Island, NY Starship Enterprise's Captain's Log <http://enterpriseb.blogspot.com/> On Dec 4, 2014, at 10:46 AM, Paul Baker via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: I reef before I furl. Cheers, Paul Orange Crush C&C27MkII, Sidney, BC. On 14-12-04 07:34 AM, Jean-Francois J Rivard via CnC-List wrote: Here's another one on heavier winds: Reef 1st or Furl 1st? Up 'till a few weeks back, when the boat gets over-powered I typically furl long before I reef because it's so much easier + it's quick to un-furl when going on a reach. But then I watched the "in port" race with the Volvo 'round the world thing where the ladies team reefed instead of going for the smaller gib and seemed to gain speed from that tactic. When I tried reefing before it seemed to remove too much power ( In 18-22 breeze) but I was not looking at the boat speed closely. Has anybody done some tests on reefing vs furling in terms of outright speed on a close haul for a given wind speed? -Francois Rivard 1990 34+ "Take Five" Lake Lanier, GA _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album Email address: CnC-List@cnc-list.com To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go bottom of page at: http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album Email address: CnC-List@cnc-list.com To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go bottom of page at: http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com
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