What is reefing the mainsail?

What is reefing the mainsail?

The area of the mainsail is reduced by a technique called reefing. This is much easier than changing the sail. Reefing is done by lowering the mainsail, establishing a new tack and clew using control lines, and hoisting the mainsail again with the bottom part no longer exposed to the wind.

What is the purpose of reefing?

Reefing reduces the area of a sail, usually by folding or rolling one edge of the canvas in on itself and attaching the unused portion to a spar or a stay, as the primary measure to preserve a sailing vessel’s stability in strong winds. Restoring full sail area is termed shaking out a reef.

What is a reefing hook?

Reef Hooks are used to hold down the “new” Tack (at the reef point) when jiffy reefing the Mainsail. Simple and Rams’ Horn Reef Hooks are attached to the Boom, as near the Tack attachment as possible, and are either screwed to the Boom or are attached to the horizontal Gooseneck Pin.

Can you reef a mainsail from the cockpit?

This single line reefing kit allows reefing control lines to be led aft to the safety of the cockpit. The system makes reefing your mainsail a quick and easy operation. Just lower the sail to a pre-determined mark on the halyard, tension the reefing line and trim the sail – all from the cockpit.

How do reefing lines work?

It involves a piece of low-stretch line that is attached to a pad eye on the mast with a snap shackle on the end. To set the reef tack, pass the shackle through the reef tack grommet and then down to the pad eye on the opposite side of the mast. This method ensures that the reef tack is securely held in place.

How long should a reef hook be?

A reef hook is usually just that: a strong hook about 10cm in length, made of stainless steel, attached to a webbing line that is generally around 2m long and ends in a D-Ring or safety clip for secure attachment to your BCD.

What is double reefing?

Definition of double-reef : to reduce the spread of (a sail) by taking in two reefs.

How does slab reefing work?

Reefing the mainsail involves lowering the sail part way to reduce its size when the wind increases. A reefed sail reduces heeling of the boat and makes the boat easier to manage. It also reduces the risk of capsizing in a gust. Reefing the mainsail is like partly furling the jib when your boat has a furling jib.

Can you sail in 4 knots of wind?

That being said, the best wind speed for sailing is one that allows you to sail the boat safely and within your comfort zone, which is generally between 5-12 knots. Keep in mind that sailing at a wind speed that pushes the boat above its normal hull speed is ultimately dangerous.

What does George Gray mean?

The poem “George Gray” by Edgar Lee Masters is voiced by dead man who is pondering the ironic design of his gravestone. The marble sailboat seems a most befitting symbol for his life-a tool of potential motion and adventure, encased in stone. George Gray lived a small life of safety and comfort.