Sail shape when reefed stock OEM sails

[sailboatmike]

today just for fun we were smashing into 5 foot seas in 20knts gusting 25 (forecast wast 5 to 10knts) or more, reefed down with a horrible sail shape we still managed 5.8 knts, we played for 1/2hr trying to get a decent sail shape with the single stock Mac sail reefing point, but we just coouldnt get it anywhere near nice.

We couldnt get the leech down to anywhere near the boom using the stock single cleat on the end.

Any hints for getting good sail shape when reefed

[kurz]

We couldnt get the leech down to anywhere near the boom using the stock single cleat on the end.

Any hints for getting good sail shape when reefed

did you use a second line that goes directly down to the boom?

[grady]

If the sail is old and blown out there is nothing you can do. What kind of outhaul do you have? If it is only 2 to 1 you may not be able to get enough pull to get it flat. If you do not have a cunningham 4 to 1 or so it will be difficult to get the luff tight enough. Did you unload the sail when you were tigening everything up? Just some ideas to try next time if you have not already tried them.

[Tomfoolery]

We couldnt get the leech down to anywhere near the boom using the stock single cleat on the end.

Any hints for getting good sail shape when reefed

did you use a second line that goes directly down to the boom?

My outhaul terminates with a stopper knot in an eye strap, and it's long enough for the standard full-sail clew grommet, plus the (single) reef clew grommet. I pass the line through the grommet, take it down and around the boom, then through the grommet again, and back to the horn cleat. I tension it with no load on it other than maybe flapping away going dead into the wind (or better, before even setting sail), so I don't need blocks to get mechanical advantage.

And since my sail is original, is a big flabby hanky anyway, and no amount of messing with it is going to shape it. But I'm selling off excess boat crap to put into the 'new main sail from Judy B' kitty.

[sailboatmike]

IM right with you there, we are just in the process of selling our JOG boat in order to get some new sails for the Mac, Im sure new sails will make her a whole new boat compared to my 1995 originals,

I have to admit that my respect for the abilities of this boat just keep growing, nothing seems to phase it, while she was sailing at far from optimum configuration she felt strong and stable with an impressive turn of speed when you get her dialed in, when we hit 5.8knts into the wind we pulled out a second GPS because we thought we were dreaming, sure enough the second GPS confirmed the 5.8knts

[Mac26Mpaul]

Hey Mike

Are you saying you can't get the clew down to the boom, and if so, are you doing it like this on page 16
http://www.macgregor26.com/instruction_ ... CTIONS.pdf

[sailboatmike]

i had much the same setup, but not exactly, its the first time we have had to reef so the whole process didnt go as well as it could have, lesson learnt and will have a good play with it before we venture out again.

As the winds were forecast at 5 to 10knts we didnt expect the conditions we got so we took it for granted.

The problem is all the weather stations are in the lee of the land when we have our prevailing South Wester blowing, so the wind they show is nothing like what is actually on the water, add to the the South Wester gets funneled between the mainland and French Island about 2km offshore, can make for some nasty conditions, when we got in I checked the reported winds on the weather stations and they showed 8knts of wind, however the one unofficial yahct club weather station on the South East shore was showing 22knts before it got funneled between the mainland and the island.

We live and learn, I just love the way the X handles bad conditions with such ease

[Highlander]

Hey Mike

Are you saying you can't get the clew down to the boom, and if so, are you doing it like this on page 16
http://www.macgregor26.com/instruction_ ... CTIONS.pdf

I use my old Mac out-haul system strictly for reefing as I now have an in-side boom out-haul, but now that I,m retired I,ll start designing or lookin for something better to install , once the boat is back in the water on a no sailin day

J

[Tomfoolery]

Hey Mike

Are you saying you can't get the clew down to the boom, and if so, are you doing it like this on page 16
http://www.macgregor26.com/instruction_ ... CTIONS.pdf

That's what I was trying to describe. Simple but effective.