I could do with some advice about reefing the balanced lug sale on my new Tenderly. Nb. I am deeply impressed how beautifully and energetically she sails “right out of the box”, and I expected to be realistically slightly disappointed at the rig’s pointing ability - but the so far brief first impressions of pointing are quite favourable on both tacks. My 62 sq foot sail has a single row of reefing cringles. The normal clew outhaul is a simple line leading to a dumb-sheave at the aft end of the boom and brought back a little way underneath to a small horn cleat. Firstly, should the reefing lines encircle the boom or only the foot of the sail? Secondly should I remake the clew outhaul, or add one from the aft reefing cringle? Thanks in anticipation. Video of first outing: https://photos.app.goo.gl/EUpVe5J3eZrkfhkj8
Since it’s not a loose-footed sail, the reef ties should go around the boom, as well as the sail.
You may want to consider a jiffy reefing scheme like the Lighthouse Tender Peapod has. You can see the black reefing lines going to the clew and the tack from the boom in this picture. It lets you reef by pulling a single line. without having to re-tie the outhaul.
Laszlo
I just found my picture of jiffy reefing in action. This is for a Peapod again, so it’s different from a Tenderly in that the sail is loose-footed and therefore the reef ties do not go around the boom. For your Tenderly, take them around the boom.
Anyway, you can see that the jiffy reefing line pulls the reefed clew down to the boom. The line goes left from a cleat on the other side of the boom (where the loop of excess line is hanging) to the end of the boom, up to the reefed clew, down to a fairlead, forward to another fairlead under the tack (not shown) , up to the reefed tack (not shown) and down to the front of the boom where it is secured.
Actually reefing is as simple as coming up into the wind, loosening the halyard to drop the yard and take the vertical tension off the sail (this is where lazyjacks are your best friend - they support the boom and keep the sail in place) and pulling on the jiffy reefing line until the clew and tack are in their proper positions. At that point, cleat the jiffy reefing line and adjust the halyard for proper sail shape. You can actually go back to sailing this way without tying the reef ties. But when it’s convenient, go ahead and tie them.
Shaking out the reef is the same process in reverse - untie the reef ties, uncleat the jiffy reef line and raise the yard. When it’s convenient, clean up the jiffy reef line.
Hope this helps,
Laszlo
