jiffy reefing - Richard westin - NS 36, Intuition IX in Bahamas, hull 4 I think

[Richard Westin]

Is there some reason not to have a single line to reef the mainsail?  from boom to 1st grommet to stern and across to first grommet by mast and back to cockpit?

[Joe Valinoti]

I remember someone posting here about trying it and wasn’t happy with the results.

 

Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA

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From: Richard Westin

Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 7:36 PM

To: INA Nonsuch Discussion Group

Subject: jiffy reefing - Richard westin - NS 36, Intuition IX in Bahamas, hull 4 I think

 

Is there some reason not to have a single line to reef the mainsail?  from boom to 1st grommet to stern and across to first grommet by mast and back to cockpit? --
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[Captain Greg]

HI Richard

I would say yes. 

The acknowledged 'best practice' for reefing our sail requires separate adjustments, first relieving the choker, lowering the sail, then using topping lift to raise wishbone, then harden the tack reef line (and then harden the halyard), then harden the clew reef line, and then lower the wishbone and re-set choker. This helps avoid over-stressing the sail track and its connections to the mast and results in better sail trim. You can see a detailed description in the informative and entertaining publication by Doug Botterell, avail on our member's page under the 'Nonsuch Sailing and Guidance' tab. You need separate tack and clew reef lines to do this.

1. Nonsuch Thots by Botts (2008 rev. version)

Also, from my experience trying jiffy reefing on a similar sized gaff-rigged catboat sail, the friction was so high as to make jiffy reefing a PITA.

Hope you find this helpful!

Greg Silver

Misty Cat 26C #121

St. Peter's, Cape Breton

Nova Scotia

[Richard Westin]

Thanks very much.

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[Mark Powers La Reina 26C Vancouver, B.C.]

The 260s, 324s and 354s all came with single line reefing systems. If you go to the INA site  under the Members heading you can locate the manuals. The system is shown there, for example in the 354 manual at page 68 of the manual, page 72 of the PDF, there is a diagram of the system. developed for the Nonsuch rig. I am not saying it is impossible but it would take a lot of head scratching.  The lines are inside the boom so retro fitting the system to an aluminium boom could be a challenge. As noted in previous responses getting the sail to set properly if you are using a standard single line set up could  be very difficult. 

Mark Powers

[Thor Powell, Nonsuch 26, Victoria BC]

One line means ots of friction and miles of line.   Practice in calm weather a few times helps refine the process.