Home Forums Reply To: More series 1 advice sought

#22047
Oliver Shaw
Moderator

Having seen your response,  and seen the sail number of your boat,  it is perhaps no surprise that for reefing I suggest that you go for modern slab/jiffy reefing for the mainsail.

Although I accept that the boat is old and venerable,  and it is a personal decision,  I do not myself feel that she is so old that historical authenticity must take absolute predominance;   and modern slab/jiffy reefing is undoubtedly so very much easier and quicker and safer to operate at sea,  and produces such a very much better set to the sail.

On the question of balancing historical authenticity against considerations of safety and usability there is a fairly good parallel with vintage and post-vintage (pre-WW2) cars;   owners generally keep them historically authentic in most respects,  but routinely fit them with modern turn indicators for reasons of safety.   The same principle can be applied to modern reefing systems on a boat of the age of yours.

However I am the first to accept that the decision is a very marginal one.   That would be my personal decision,  but the boat must date from about 1957,  so if you personally feel that historical authenticity predominates it is not for me to argue otherwise.

Having said that,  I realise that you are using very old sails.   You probably already have square gooseneck roller reefing installed,  and you seem to feel that the structural strength of the sails is questionable.   A sensible half-way house might therefore be not to incur the expense of adding reef points to your existing mainsail,  but initially use the existing roller reefing facility when needed,  and also nurse the boat accordingly.   But when you eventually upgrade to new (or newer) sails I suggest that you make a point of buying decent cruising sails (and Edge Sails are probably the preferred sailmaker in the cruising fleet,  perhaps followed by Jeckells);   and at that point have your reef points fitted,  and install a modern reefing system.

Incidentally when you do eventually replace your sails,  good cruising sails are not clapped out racing sails;   they are a very different animal.   Don’t just go for second-hand racing sails which have been pensioned off.

 

Oliver