|
THE
ALTERNATIVE TO ROLLER REEFING by Captain Crunch
Most
Wayfarers equipped with centre-haul mainsheets are very difficult to
"roller
reef". The alternative is to "jiffy" or slab reef, which is usually
easier
and faster.
To
rig
a Wayfarer mainsail for slab reefing, have a reputable sailmaker (such
as Heider Funck at Raudaschl who already has these measurements on
file)
put two or three 3/16" grommets and two 1/2" cringles on the sail as
shown.
The leach cringle should bring the inner end of the lower batten down
to
within three or four inches of the boom. The luff cringle, when hauled
into place, will leave the boom kicked up a little higher than it is
with
no reef in. The mid-sail grommets pack in the excess sail and help
flatten
the sail as required for heavy winds.
The
leach
earing (see diagram above) snaps onto the outhaul shackle, then
is led up the sail and through the cringle from the same side as the
fairlead
on the boom, down the other side of the sail, under the boom and
through
the fairlead. Tie a knot in the end. Be sure the earing is slack after
the knot is tied.
The
fairlead is fastened to the boom directly under the leach when the sail
is reefed, not back under the clew grommet, and at a 45 degree angle to
the centreline of the boom.
The
clam cleat is fastened at about a four o'clock position (looking at the
end of the boom), far enough up the boom that there is a four to six
inch
tail left when the earing is hauled tight to reef the sail.
The
luff earing is similarly rigged.
The
reef points are made of two-foot lengths of 1/8" dacron line with a
knot
in the centre. You will see the reason for the knot and the two-foot
length
when you try to use them.
If
you
rig your reefing gear as described and shown in the diagrams, the
procedure
is as follows:
1. heave
to
2.
let
off the boom vang (kicking strap) completely
3.
haul
the leach earing TIGHT and secure
4.
ease
main halyard until the luff reefing cringle is six to eight inches
above
the boom
5.
secure
the luff earing to the luff reefing cringle (if not already reeved),
haul
TIGHT & secure
6.
reeve
and tie off reef points
7.
re-set
boom vang
8.
set
the sails and go
If you
find that you are still overcanvassed, douse the jib. If still too much
sail ... get off the lake!
Crunch
(Capt.)
return
to WIT home page
|