[C320-list] Clew Tension with Reef in Mainsail

[Irving Grunes]

Sometimes we looped the line of the clew through the bowline around the
boom.
Then when we dropped the sail to reef it, we pulled the clew close to the
boom through the bowline, and then since it was reeved to the end of the
boom the clew was close to the boom and it pulled back not only the clew
but the bowline along the  boom.

Some people use a "clew strap", a velcro kind of strap to hold the line
going to the clew, close to the boom so that the clew is held tight to the
boom and the reef line pulls the clew close to the boom.  But that means
getting out of the cockpit and in a blow we found it not practical.  But if
reefing before leaving the dock it works

Irv Grunes
Former #851

On Mon, Sep 19, 2016 at 3:28 PM, <tharrison at innovations-plus.com> wrote:

> On my sail, there is a 5/8 inch grommet straight below the reef clew. The
> end of reefing line goes from the clew down through this grommet and ties
> around the boom with a blow line. This prevents the line from sliding
> forward.
>
> Ted hull 424
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
> Of Scott Thompson
> Sent: Monday, September 19, 2016 2:42 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Cc: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Clew Tension with Reef in Mainsail
>
> I do the same but if the loop around the boom is too far forward, and it
> always slips forward, you can't get enough pull towards the end of the boom
> and the sail is too full.
>
> > On Sep 19, 2016, at 12:50 PM, Guy Smith <smitski2001 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> > Awe jeez...
> > Sorry for the last post Scott...
> > I got confused between the discussion on the Outhaul and the tension
> > on the Clew when reefing...I have not had any issues with the Single
> > line reefing. With the Mainsheet eased, I use the cabin top winch to
> > crank down on the Reefing line and have been happy the results in
> > 25kts, gusts to 35kts, which is about the worst I've seen on the
> > Chesapeake. Anything more and I don't sail... :) ~g
> >
> >      From: Scott Thompson <surprise at thompson87.com>
> > To: C320-List at Catalina320.com; c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
> > Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2016 8:56 PM
> > Subject: Re: [C320-list] Clew Tension with Reef in Mainsail
> >
> > 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
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>