Clew Outhaul and Reef Point Details.
Weekender Loose footed Main.
Since doing this I have found that all the horizontal movement along the boom you need is about six inches.
This will give you dead flat or straight foot to a big belly monster. Full aft or fully tightened, the clew is about an inch and a half from the cheek block on the boom end. Then six inches forward of that will give you a nice big belly.
I could move the fairlead jam cleat aft....but am used to it now.
To adjust is a two handed affair. To flatten when the wind pipes up you may have to take the pressure off the sail by pinching up....specially on a larger VAC sail. For someone so inclined you could do this with an extra pulley for a better purchase.
Click on either image for a larger version.
The Quick Link and pulley is the Topping Lift. It can be a bit of a pain at times...but worth it big time. I highly recommend one on rig like this. Mine goes up to a single pulley at the mast head and down to the forward chain plate/turnbuckle on the port side. I can't imagine how anyone gets by without one. Keep the booms and gaff out of the cockpit when furling sail and can pull the whole mess right up and out of the way for motoring or launching/retrieving.
Reef Points.
I used two reef sets on my sail. Had to sew them in myself as the sail I chose to buy did come with them.
I used a formula for the reef point location from a fellow named Charles (AC)Stock. He has 40 years experience in small sailboats around this size....over 10,000 NM. I figure he knows what he is talking about. He suggests a reduction of 20% for each reef.
On my previous sail, I had a much deeper first reef point and found it quite useless. Having sailed this new rig in 20 knots breezes, I have found this measurement to be perfect...as Mr. Stock said it would be.
In this boat, now that it has light weight spars and ballast, I don't really feel the need to reef until 15 knots steady, but it is a lot more relaxing if you reef down sooner. I guess it depends on your point of sail and the boat/skipper. A stock Weekender might want sail reduction a lot sooner. On a very windy day of 20knots with gusts over, I could have gone one deeper but didn't bother.
The foot of this sail is curved. My reef points are laid out straight. So at the tack end clew ends the first reef is 22" up from the foot and the 2nd reef is 43" up from the foot. There are five ties on the lower reef and four on the upper.
I hope this helps.
Cheers, Tim.
