Reef without reefing

[MacGyver]

My wife did this NauticEd thing when we first were getting the boat since I said that I understood the principles but had never put them to use in the real world, that kinda scared her..... so she went to this website to learn.

It was kinda neat, we didnt pay money, and she went through all the free stuff which helped us to communicate with one another and not be totally confused.

Anyway, In her email was a link, that I have provided here, about backwinding to reef the main.
Give it a read, it is pretty neat.

http://www.nauticed.org/sailing-blog/sail-trim-finesse/?utm_source=EmailDirect.com&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=2014-3-Mar+Campaign

Mac

[jb]

Mac

thanks for the article, nice hint and a good explanation

j

[Cats Paw]

This method may well work for de-powering the boat I would not consider this as an alternative to true reefing. If winds are at a point were the boat becomes to uncomfortable to control than by all means REEF! With the example provided you still have full sail up. If the wind were to clock or back with a severe gust and catch the helmsmen off guard that could land one in a tough situation to recover from. By all means as we all know you can de-power by luffing the sails or falling off.  On the other hand Reefing is Reefing.