| In the last Learn to Sail article on reefing we convinced | | | | tighten the sail after reefing with the jibsheet. Don't use |
| you pretty hard on why you should reef the sails. So | | | | the inhaul to tighten the sail. A roller furling jibsail/genoa |
| now lets first learn how to reef the headsails. | | | | has a drum at the bottom of the forestay. This rolls up |
| The five most common sails on a sailboat are mainsail, | | | | by pulling on the inhaul line and rolls out by pulling on the |
| jibsail, genoa, spinaker and genaker. | | | | jibsheet. The inhaul is a line that runs back to the |
| We'll deal with the spinnaker and genaker first in | | | | cockpit. You pull the inhaul to wind it up while managing |
| regards to reefing because it's pretty simple. Take | | | | the slow release of the jib sheets. |
| them down and replace with a smaller one if available | | | | To unwind the head sail you will release the inhaul line |
| or take down entirely. Don't push the limits with these | | | | and lay it out so that it will uncoil smoothly with out |
| sails. They are made of very fine and fragile fabric | | | | getting caught in the inhaul clutch or cleat. Then pull the |
| because they need to be light. If you over power | | | | leeward (downwind) jibsheet all the time ensuring the |
| these sails they will tear. Even if they don't tear, one | | | | smooth uncoiling of the inhaul, plus keeping a watch out |
| slight misjudgment or distraction when flying these in | | | | on traffic and crew etc. |
| high winds can lead to a broach. | | | | When you are reefing a roller furling headsail, slowly let |
| A broach is when the wind force slams the boat over | | | | out the jibsheet and/or head the boat to wind to |
| sideways, you loose control, the boat tries rounds up | | | | slacken the jibsheet. Roll up the sail the desired amount |
| but the wind continues to fill the sail and hold the boat | | | | making sure that the jibsheet always has some slack |
| down - potentially capsizing it. It's the last thing you | | | | to it. Then tighten the headsail back up with the |
| want to do as you learn to sail because you probably | | | | jibsheet only. Do not cleat off the jibsheet and tighten |
| don't have the experience to get out of this situation | | | | the sail by further hauling in on the inhaul. This will |
| other than swimming. You'll most often see this in | | | | certainly damage the drum and furling system. |
| yacht club match racing when a captain is reluctant to | | | | For additional safety, do not completely let go the |
| reduce sail area because he wants to win the race. | | | | jibsheets then begin winding the inhaul. This causes the |
| Experienced skippers know to NOT put a stopper | | | | jibsheets to whip wildly and, from experience, they |
| knot in any of the working lines of a spinnaker or | | | | really REALLY hurt. Control the jibsheet tension at all |
| genaker. If you broach you will need to dump these | | | | times. Controlling the jibsheet tension also ensures a |
| lines completely out of any blocks or fairleads that | | | | firmly wound headsail. |
| guide these lines with in seconds or face potential | | | | When you want to let out a reef in the headsail, first |
| capsize. | | | | wrap the inhaul around a winch two to four times |
| The next sail set to discuss is the jibsail and the genoa. | | | | depending on the wind strength. Then release the |
| Or they can correctly be referred to as the head sail | | | | inhaul clutch/cleat and control the let out of the inhaul. |
| in both circumstances. These two sails are essentially | | | | Once it is at the point you want it or it's all the way out, |
| the same except by definition. A headsail is a genoa if | | | | cleat the inhaul and tighter up on the jibsheet. |
| the clew (bottom aft eyelet) extends aft past the | | | | If the headsails are not of the furling type then you will |
| mast. A head sail is a jibsail if the clew does not | | | | most likely hank (clip) them onto the forestay and then |
| extend past the mast. People refer to a jib or genoa | | | | raise the sail with the jib halyard. In this case there is no |
| size by the percentage of distance from the forestay | | | | way to furl or reef that sail. Reefing the headsail then |
| to the mast. If the Genoa extends past by 10% then it | | | | means removing the current headsail and raising a |
| is called a 110 genoa. If a jibsail extends only 90% of | | | | smaller one. It's not that difficult but you have to be |
| the distance from the forestay to the mast then it is | | | | aware of whipping lines and inherent dangers of being |
| called a 90 jibsail. | | | | on the bow in rough and rolling seas with waves |
| Some jibsails and genoas are raised and lowered and | | | | potentially breaking over the foredeck. Under poor |
| some roll up (furl) around the forestay. If they are | | | | weather conditions, the prudent sailor will be clipped into |
| furled around the forestay then it is very simple to reef | | | | jacklines with a harness. Jacklines are safety lines that |
| them. You simply roll them up a little in order to | | | | run on the deck from forward to aft. A crew member |
| decrease their size. Typically there will be two stripes | | | | can clip in and walk to the foredeck and back whilst all |
| marked on the foot of the jib/genoa. Each one marks | | | | the time being attached to the sailboat. |
| where the sail should be rolled to for the respective | | | | As you learn to sail, we sincerely hope that you take |
| reefing point. | | | | note of this sail reefing series as it is very important to |
| There is a safety and rigging protecting method that is | | | | your crew, yourself and your vessel. This article is not |
| VERY important to note when reefing a roller furling | | | | the be all and end all. You absolutely should get out |
| sail. It's a classic mistake that is commonly made when | | | | sailing with a knowledgeable friend or instructor on a |
| you learn to sail because you're not familiar with the | | | | boat and practice reefing under various weather |
| rigging and their forces. The point is simple, you must | | | | conditions. |