Reefing your sails while you are underway is not hard when you know how. This video covers the basics of when, why and how. This is beginning level video.
Very important to anticipate the wind getting into the velocity range he mentioned... not as easy at it looks when you're being knocked over in a squall.
New sailor searching for answers and I stumbled on this. The clarity and simplicity is as remarkable as its delivery. I get it ! ... and it feels great 🤗.
I appreciate your explanation. Being new at sailing when I try to look up how to do things, the videos seem to be designed more to impress the viewer than instruct because they use salty old sea dog vocabulary. I realize that I need to learn these terms but I prefer videos like yours that explain things where I can understand.
I'm so glad I found this guy. No bullshit,just good straightforward instruction. He has made reefing less of a scientific phenomenon,and doesn't harp on with mathematical conundrums, and scientifically researched NASA astronaut theories, velocity,wind speeds,and directional pull,aero dynamics,space factors blah blah blah. Simple,and to the point. A1
My God I love the concept of tutorials but hate almost every one because they are almost always verbose, ambling and poorly executed. You are terse, precise, clear and effortlessly articulate. WHAT A JOY! So well done I am amazed. I agree with the commenter below who said, " That's got to be the clearest instruction on how to reef a sail on the tube.".
Thank you. Straightforward explanation. I've been out more than once on a yacht making no progress in strong winds and heavy seas for lack of seamanship involving some kind of macho desire not to reef. It's an issue seldom addressed.
Glad to stumble across your video on reefing. I am very happy with the way you clearly and simply explained the method that you used on your yacht. Thank you 😁👍👍
I think it has alot has to do with the equipment you have. Mine is an Isomat so it has the reefing lines in the boom. This is the first video that I've found that has in-boom reefing lines and does a great job simplifying and explaining it.
I want to learn to sail and watch a lot of sailing videos, but your video explained why, when and how. I will be liking, subscribing and watching more of your videos. thanks
it looks sort of simple enough yet I will have to practice. 40 years ago it seemed to be simpler, there weren't all those blocks and rollers, one just had to bring down the sail and clip a ring in then roll up the loose sail. Yet I sailed a simple BM , or what we call in Holland a 16 m2
Just some additional thoughts: I also raise the topping lift slightly and temporarily to ease the tension on the clew when pulling in the leach reefing line. Because I am older and singlehanded I have attached small blocks on the reefing clews to reduce friction while pulling in the leach reefing lines and I keep one leach reefing line on the port side of the sail and the other on the starboard side so the bunt of the sail is not pinched between the reefing line and the boom when pulling in the lines. Finally since my reefing lines can not be run inside my boom and I reef at the mast I have replaced the tack reefing hook with a snap shackle which makes the task exceptionally easier. Thank you for saying reef the mainsail first before partially furling the jib! So very few people do. Another reason, so much better to have a double reefed main and a full jib because if the wind continues to increase you can then furl the jib and hove-to on a double reefed main. Sailing on just a partially furled jib does not provide that option.
For off-shore and cruising I prefer a single line reefing system which runs from Reef one on the leech through blocks either on or in the boom, back up to Reef 1's cringle on the luff, back down through a block next to the mast and aft through a cabin top clutch to the cabin top winch, this applies to reefs 1 to 3 (if you have a 3rd) reef, on opposite sides of the boom, 1&3 port side, 2 on stbd, main halyard led aft through a clutch to the other cabin top winch, I prefer external blocks on the boom below the stackpack for maintenance and repair. If you do short-handed or solo sailing it is way better to lead all your lines aft to the cockpit, also highly recommend colour coding reefing lines, I go R1 blue, R2 orange and R3 red, and mark your clutches. Good video, but there are a multitude of ways to reef and it's about what works for you and the conditions that you normally sail in, because of where we sail (South African coast) we put in and shake out reefs a lot, and often in 30+ knots, mind you that's only reef 1 because we have flatter sail cuts and will sail a 42' under full sail until 25+ knots true, mind you we don't bother with putting up canvas until we've got a guaranteed 12 knots true, and regularly sail in over 35 knots, sometimes up to 45 knots when racing
You make some really great points! In San Diego they call off races if the wind gets up to 25 knots...that's when South African sailors are just getting started.
Thank you the video was simple and informative. I am a self taught sailor who made a lot of mistakes in the past . It’s nice to know what to do before I make a mistake .
Always good to reef without stopping and/or luffing up. Many sailing schools do not take folk to this next level. Far easier to ease the mainsheet, keeping your coarse and the boat is more stable too!
Damage ..... if you have to heave-to then you have left it too late. You then have to tack to sail out of the heave-to. Agreed heaving-to is essential if you are in the doo doo, but better to reef early.
great video. We all know these things on some level but the value of these videos to me is the way way you use the unspoken knowledge. I love your boat, so very well thought out. id say the best sailing vids on youtube, just my thoughts. keep up the great work. your helping so many sailors.
I'd like to add three important notes to complement the video. First reef _before_ you "must" or start reefed and let out more sail when you're comfortable. Second remember that as the boat heels more the rudder gets inefficient, instead of turning the boat it tries to lift or sink the stern - reefing reduces this problem. Third, especially in rough waters it can be easier to change course into the wind if possible, the boat will move less with the waves meeting the bow first, reduce soaking of crew on deck (or even a breaking wave straight over your back).
@@CaptainLang You're welcome, sailing is a complex subject so it's not possible to cover everything at once and I hadn't commented if I didn't feel the base video was good.
As soon as you think, mmm maybe time to put in a reef, is the time to put in a reef. Always reef early, then have a cup of tea, you can always shake it out again.
hello, glad I found your channel as I am new to sailing and looking to purchase my own soon. Just a question, in this instance would it be plausible to install a jammer, as to reef the sail from the cockpit? I'm looking to circumnavigate solo ( with lessons beforehand and a very good grasp on necessities ) on a center cockpit so as an inexperienced sailor I have to leave the cockpit as infrequently thanks for the videos!
Yes...It is a good idea to run all lines, including reefing lines into the cockpit. You must also have a good jackline for the times you need leave the cockpit.
Thank you! Is it always enough to use only the reefing points at the very front and back of the sail, or should the middle ones also be used in very strong winds or for bigger sails?
