[C320-list] Clew Tension with Reef in Mainsail

[Scott Thompson]

I've noticed the same problem, most recently when sailing in a blow last 
weekend. I have the added eye on the underside of the boom but haven't 
tried tying the reef line end to it because it seems to be too far aft, 
and so using that as the end point for the reef would result in too much 
"outhaul" effect and perhaps not enough leech tension. But it occurred 
to me recently to try tying a short line from that eye to the loop of 
reef line going around the boom in order to keep the reef line a bit 
further aft than it naturally wants to be. I'm going to try this next 
time I sail in conditions demanding a reef.

The ideal solution would be to have an eye on a short piece of track on 
the side of the boom so that the position would be adjustable. I've used 
this arrangement on other boats. With this setup the reef line exits the 
boom and goes through the eye on the track, then through the reef 
cringle, then down and under the boom, ending with a bowline on the eye 
on the track. This keeps the angle of pull more or less even on both 
sides of the sail, and that angle is adjustable by moving the eye on the 
track.


On 9/18/2016 9:57 AM, David Cushman wrote:
> My reefing system for the main is rigged exactly as drawn in my 
> owner's manual with the lead clew reefing line passing through a 
> grommet hole in the mainsail and being tied around the boom. When 
> reefed, there does not seem to be enough outhaul tension(too much 
> draft in the reefed main) and the direction of the resulting outhaul 
> should be pulling further aft. I noticed at the rendezvous that some 
> owners have an additional eye beneath the boom at the aft end. Are 
> there any suggestions as to how to get more outhaul tension when 
> reefing the main by relocating the lead clew reef line position? Or 
> any other suggestions adding different boom hardware or without having 
> to add any hardware to the boom?
>
> Dave Cushman
>
> It Tips
>
> #628
>