MorningBird said...

Might sound like a dumb question, but why do you need winches on the mast for D rings on straps?

Yachts with reefing horns on the boom usually do the reefing at the mast. If the yacht has reefing lines at the cockpit then the winches are mounted there. Racing yachts often have deck mounted winches at the mast base. All the operations for reefing should be able to be carried out by one person in one place so if your using horns then the winches are on the mast and boom or at the base of the mast on the deck.
Halyards and reefing lines are shorter if its all done at the mast. I personally like doing it in the cockpit with stackpack/lazy jacks.

Re: sailmakers, i think they will always be kept busy by the local racers not so much the cruisers.
I've seen the funniest things go down watching pig headed racers, here's a few:
The whole fleet under spinnakers with an obvious squall line coming, about 3/4 of them broached and about 10 spins turned into ribbons, it looked like a surprise birthday party.
Sydney harbour races coming out of middle harbour in a strong westerly one by one they came out running square with full mains to be knocked flat like lemmings.

Re: Winch on mast/horns. With the horns you have to go to the mast to slip the rings off or on so i'm there with the halyard and reefing lines and topping lift, all sorted.
With the groms, you might as well run them all back to the cockpit.

try your local sail maker he will sort you out with battens !

"Thanks for the advice. It is the obvious place but I was hoping to buy them somewhere more convenient to my place. Whitworths don't do them, nor do Bias.
I have tried online and found a couple of providers.
Anybody tried to buy them online? "

Whitworths can easily get battens, unfortunately you need a staff member with some knowledge of where to get them from which sounds like they were sadly lacking.
Next time you are in Whitworths or possibly would have more luck in their mailorder section. Get them to open up a DP catalogue were they get their hot knives and sun fabric from. The battens are cheap and domestic freight costs are not rediculous (unlike international rates for battens due to cubic freight rates).
Brett

And that would be one of the main reasons why we have a need to shop os for marine goods here in Australia. The staff in chandleries are for the most part poorly trained monkeys. John at Whitworths there is a great example of either too stupid or too lazy (more probable) to even look for the catalogue/price list that was dropped off to the store.

G'day Ken. Sounds good. Where are you located?

Cheers

John

PS I just saw your club on the stern.

Thanks Dusty. It was good of you to give it a go.
What type of boat do you have?
Cheers
John

New Far East Sails main fitted today. I didn't get a sail in but hoisted it on the mooring. It is a very good shape and fit and sets well. The clew and tack are correctly located and she looks to have a good shape. For US$1466 delivered, plus $120 for the battens, I am a happy camper.

MorningBird said...

New Far East Sails main fitted today. I didn't get a sail in but hoisted it on the mooring. It is a very good shape and fit and sets well. The clew and tack are correctly located and she looks to have a good shape. For US$1466 delivered, plus $120 for the battens, I am a happy camper.

Long weekend is shaping up as "breezy". How many reef points did you go for?

MorningBird said...

The weekend is looking like it will be better to be watching footy on tv than sailing. I'm not working Friday so might test the new sail then. To answer the question, two reefs both pretty deep. The 1st is 1.6m and the 2nd 3.4m. Three reefs is too much too handle single handed so I went for two with the 2nd good for 30+ kts. After that drop it and if critical put up the trysail, but it would have to be really necessary.

Number of reefs should not make much difference. Out yesterday testing some of the headsails I own but never used. Had the number 3 up which has leech battens which makes it unusable to furl. I'm normally by myself but had one of the other locals with me, Cav 32 owner just back from Lord Howe. He asked me how I reef the main and I explained it then demonstrated[he watched]. Probably do it in a minute or two without rushing. Down to the third reef takes no longer. Windvane steers the boat but could probably do it steering with me bum holding the tiller! Probably takes me longer to take in a couple of rolls with the furler.

MorningBird said...

G'day Graham. That is OK if you have single line reefing. I need to go to the mast to put the cringle on the horn then go back to the cockpit to get the halyard up and pull the reefing line in to get the clew down.
Having two reefs also reduces the number of ropes and clutches and I don't have to take one reef off the horn to get the third on.
I can see the reasoning to have 3 reefs if racing, the same as having a range of headsails to be able to optimise sail combinations. As a cruiser I don't need to worry about it.
Having said that, I would like to see your set up. If it isn't too much work I could be tempted to convert mine.

Lot of rope, that's the only down side. I'm benefiting from someone else's clever work!

Good idea. I use my Cunningham to reef but only because the horns are not well placed, the sail blows off the horn. I will set mine up to do the same and see how it works.

Ramona said...
Lot of rope, that's the only down side. I'm benefiting from someone else's clever work!

Nice shot Ramona. There is nothing quite like a sloop that will power to windward.

Was the hand in charge of the vang on a day off that day?

Took the main for a short sail to see how it sets and reefs. The sail sets nicely, the reefs work well and sail shape when reefed is very good. The boat is faster and points noticeably higher. These are very good sails, highly recommended.

I expected a major improvement with a non baggy main but am genuinely pleased with the quality, fit and set of this mainsail.
My furling heady is a Rolly Tasker sail made in Phuket. I ordered it from the Woolwich Marina, the RT agent, while my rigger fitted the furler. It was reassuring having them measure everything up and be responsible for the fit. I went up one grade of cloth from that recommended, foam in the luff and UV strip and it cost about $2200. It sets very well even when furled a fair way in.
Obviously I haven't used the Fareast Sails headsail measuring process but the mainsail process was pretty thorough. I can't fault the set of the main.