Reefing UP for more headroom

[BruceW]

Hiya, folks,

I was commiserating recently with Keith Scott about sailing standing up. I thought I might want a bigger boat. Keith, knowing me as he does, said I'd find that to be more hassle than I'd like. Anyway, he suggested reefing the main, and pulling the sail up the mast for more headroom. I remember doing this a couple of times with my Suncat.

Maybe I'll remember to try it; last time out, I forgot because the wind was so good I was busy having fun.

Any of yawl done this?

Bruce

[Tim Gardner]

Bruce, quite a salty way to spell Ya'll, even less punctuation needed.  I do exactly that in light air with my asym spin up on a broad reach or run.  Makes for a pleasant afternoon when the conditions are right.

[Bob23]

I have not tried this but it makes sense. But even though you are reducing the sail area, aren't you still raising the center of effort?
But I really enjoy getting hit in the head with the boom!

[peterg]

Bob, that does explain a lot!!

[BruceW]

Bruce, quite a salty way to spell Ya'll, even less punctuation needed.  I do exactly that in light air with my asym spin up on a broad reach or run.  Makes for a pleasant afternoon when the conditions are right.

Cool, Tim, I like to stay nautical on here as much as possible.

I have a furler that I can let out a little, and then raise the boom with main.

What parameters of winds would you be wanting for the reef up maneuver?

[Tim Gardner]

Anything below 7-8 MPH for the Asym.  But direction must be WSW to W to be effective here at SML in that config.

TG

[NateD]

I actually had my main sail cut down (removed from the top) to raise the boom to clear a bimini. Before that I was sailing with 1 reef in (with sail fully hoisted) to clear the bimini. Removing luff length from the head limited the amount of square footage lost (as compared to removing 19" at the foot). I wanted the head to be cut more square, like those fancy racing boats, but the sail maker thought it was best to still have it angle back to the mast and I trust her judgement on such things. Obviously the center of effort moves higher and further forward, but not enough to really notice.

[BruceW]

Nate, glad to see your comments too; I will try this reefing up idea one day. Might like that cut down or cut up sail idea too if I get a bimini and want more headroom there also.