Reefing the Main Question

[Gil Weiss]

I saw how to rig a line from the boom through the rear reef point on a CP 16 main sail at the Philadelphia Sailboat Show last January. Now that my boat is in the water I have done this but I question if anyone uses the center reef point? Also, since I use a sail slide stop in my mast track, it appears that this must be removed to allow the lower sail slide (slug) to be frww to allow the forward reef point to be put on the reef hook on the goosneck?

Any thoughts on  this?

[jhopps]

I am not sure what you mean by slug stop on the mast, but I think you mean you have a different type of main than I do.  My main has a bolt rope that slides in the grove of the mast and I don't have any type of stop
for when it comes down.  I have been trying to make a post about JIFFY
REEFING.  The link is not working, but I have put a picture in the gallery.
but back to your question, I think you can remove the stop and your main
will just come down and stack up ( grove slide pieces, whatever they are called) this will cause the reef clew at the main to be probable about 8 inches above the main.  This should not be a problem. When you draw the reefing line tight and secure it these sliders will be held snugly down on the boom.  The foot of the main will now be tight to the outhaul clew, but not exactly laying on the boom, it will be at a slight angle.

Second as the picture shows I only use the front and rear reefing points.

Third, I love my Jiffy Reefing!!

[multimedia_smith]

Hi Gill,

I too have slugs and a round sail stop that slides up the groove.  I also use a second sail stop just above the gooseneck when I slide it into place to keep it snug in case the cunningham slips.  It hasn't slipped upward since I have been doing this.

I also ran a LONG line for my outhaul... it runs the length of the boom and I use the forward cleat to tie it off.  I found that the rear cleat was awkward to reach unless the boom was sheeted almost to the center of the boat.  This way the outhaul can be adjusted at the same place as the vang.  I usually unhook the gooseneck pin that goes through the grommet at the clew of the main and fold the sail at the second grommet (reef point of the clew) and reinsert the pin and that holds the main luff in place for the reef.  This means that if I really wanted to, I could roll it up sonce there is nothing tied to the cunningham cleat on the mast.  I have never had to use the roller reefing... probably because it would mean disconnecting the vang and boom kicker... but mostly because the single reef and a tight vang/(flatter sail) usually are plenty conservative enough with the 110 up front.  I have changed the 155 out while bouncing up on the bow... luckily I had someone at the tiller with the motor on to keep us headed into the wind.
The more conditions we experience... the more I appreciate this little boat.
Cheers.
Dale