Shake out the Reef or Unfurl the Headsail: which first?

[arknoah]

I noticed the following post on Sailnet:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/learning- ... -reef.html

Essentially, the poster was going out with a double reefed main, and as the wind picked up he asked if he should unfurl all or part of his jib (85%) or shake out a reef first. Lots of answers in the forum suggested that different boats behave differently, therefore, the answer would vary as well.

My question is this: what might be the best way to answer his query in the case of a MacGregor 25 (circa 1984). I often go out with a single reef, and I am never quite sure if shaking out the reef versus unfurling part my Genny first is best. For those of you who are far more experienced, what do you think is the beat sequence for a Mac 25?

Thanks in advance for your help and perspectives!

[robbarnes1965]

I have a Mac and also race on two other boats weekly (C&C Mega, J100) and find the story is roughly similar for all. The definition of "high winds" is about all that changes for the different boats. You need to balance CE so you should always have at least a bit of jib unfurled. In higher winds, just a patch to balance the helm. It won't actually drive you forward, just balance and help you tack. For your specific example, unfurling a bit of foresail would definitely be the way to go as you are already balance too far aft.

A single handing tip I learned from another poster on this board for shaking out the reef or dropping the main is to unfurl the foresail and go into hove-to position. The backed foresail will now shadow the wind from your main and make dropping or adjusting it really easy. I have tried this with my Mac and the J100 and it works really well.

Rob

[tomchitecture]

Having experience in high seas and high winds, my recommendation would be a decision based on 2 things, the design of the boat and the weather challenges.

If you have a masthead rigged boat, your staysail is bigger and is responsible for more of the boat's power and heel. A fractional rigged boat like our Mac's relies a little more on the main for power. If the intention is to power the boat up or down, I would adjust the main first. A reefed main dramatically lowers the center of effort on our boats but also gives you a much flatter shape, allowing you to point a little higher and drive with a thinner foil.

In storm situations, winds build first and then seas. So you'll have high winds and calmer seas at the beginning of the storm, high winds and high seas in the middle and low winds and high seas at the end. The jib, being your "other rudder," it is more important to have that available to you to power through the seas, so in a high-sea environment, I dial back the main and dial up the jib. Fast and controlled is better than slow and uncontrolled.

I think of heel and drive/steerage separately, especially on a fractional rig. A new, modern jib can cut well and not be responsible for much heel, but is crucial to being able to power through big waves. Ask yourself, "What do I want to adjust?" Heel=Main Drive and Steerage= Jib

[bscott]

For the I recommend reefing the main and keeping the working jib full to the point that I regularly go to the second reef on the main and maintain a 15/20 heel with speeds of 6knts, sometimes more. I have yet to reef my jib as it is the best hove-to tool I have.

Bob

[DaveB]

Do you have a reefing system that you can reef your Main in the cockpit? If not it is best to lower your main and let the Jib run it's course.
Winds of over 20 knots is overpowering these light displacement hulls. Take the Main down and furl the jib. I beat to windward in 15 knots of wind less than 45degrees off bow.
Thats with a 105 jib alone makeing 5 plus knots.
Tho I have two reefing points in a new Main I have yet to reef my Mac.X in 4 years . Thats to do with unstable wind conditions for my area.
Reef when you first think of it, sh..it hits the fan if you wait.
If you think a thunderstorm or a frontal system is comeing thru, drop the Main and furl the jib.
I like a average 10-15 degree heel beating to windward, anything more is a redneck or a Ya..hoo sailer.
Dave

I noticed the following post on Sailnet:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/learning- ... -reef.html

Essentially, the poster was going out with a double reefed main, and as the wind picked up he asked if he should unfurl all or part of his jib (85%) or shake out a reef first. Lots of answers in the forum suggested that different boats behave differently, therefore, the answer would vary as well.

My question is this: what might be the best way to answer his query in the case of a MacGregor 25 (circa 1984). I often go out with a single reef, and I am never quite sure if shaking out the reef versus unfurling part my Genny first is best. For those of you who are far more experienced, what do you think is the beat sequence for a Mac 25?

Thanks in advance for your help and perspectives!

[NiceAft]

This is what the quoted poster said.

So I plan to head out under power, and deploy my main double-reefed. None of my jib (85%, roller- furling) out. That way it would be difficult to have too much sail up.

So hypothetically, the main is double-reefed, things are going good and it is time to add a bit more sail. So do I raise my main to the next reefing point, or do I open up the jib?

The Jib seems to me to be too much sail to be deployed at this stage. Is it possible to only roll out partially? I don't know if that is hard on the equipment, or impractical, or useless. Or perhaps it will add to stability and would be a good idea instead of letting out a reef in the main.

He says that

the main is double-reefed, things are going good and it is time to add a bit more sail.

If things are going good, then get rid of one reef. If it turns out that action is a mistake, then let out some of the mainsheet and unfurl some jib. If you feel that you need to reef again, then head into the wind and reef. Make certain that the boat is well balanced with its sails.

I have a musclehead sail, and I need to reef much sooner than the standard sail for the Mac. I have been spun around by gusts, and learned quickly that this boat can take more than it appears to be able too. My suggestion to Arknoah is after reading all the posts, go out and learn that you can experiment and learn that you will feel more confident as your experiences in the boat grow.

Keep the ballast full and enjoy yourself.

Ray