MacGregorSailors.com

Hi,

Could this be? I've been trying to figure out how to reef and it seems like the way the sail drops it doesn't allow for enough space to attach it to the hook on the mast.

Or am I just doing something wrong lol

Are you slackening the outhaul? Do you have sail slugs, or a bolt rope in the slot? If slugs, is there something blocking the slugs so the grommet can't get low enough to reach the hook?

Pics would help, of course.

See if you have anything resembling these on your mast, just below the mainsail.


If you do, unscrew it, slide it down below to below the opening in the slug slide ( my term for it ) then retighten the knob.

If you don't have anything that resembles the photo, please include a picture of your set up in your next post. Inquiring minds want to know.

Ray

X2 on need to loosen the outhaul first...

If you're on a stock model X, there's only two ways I know of;

1) Release the track slide Lock (as indicated above)
This allows two of the lowest sail slugs to go below mast opening. (If no mast gate) which lowers the tack which should then be able to attach to the reef hook.

2) install luff "Jack-lines" in the sail.
This needs to be done by the sail maker. We have this option and it's very convenient with reefing done from the cockpit.
https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index ... il.168484/
http://www.sailmaker.com/articles/reefing.htm

Thanks a lot guys. I definitely have a track slide lock and for some reason didnt even think to undo it. Thanks again.

Goldenist wrote:Thanks a lot guys. I definitely have a track slide lock and for some reason didnt even think to undo it. Thanks again.

As a side note;
When opening the "slug slide lock" you risk all the slugs falling out - if you lower the mainsail too far.
- If your main halyard is led after to cockpit, you can mark the halyard with a felt pen or whipping twine so you don't lower the halyard past that point.
- if you lower the main halyard from the mast, after you uncleat the halyard to lower the mainsail to reef, take a few feet of halyard and re-cleat it. If you accidentally let go of the halyad yhe headsail will only lower a few feet.

Also, a good idea to attach a lanyard to the sail stop

Wind Chime wrote:Also, a good idea to attach a lanyard to the sail stop

At the MMOR last year, a bunch of us were rafted up in Lake Simcoe. I decided to sit on the boom, near the mast, and the instant the main sail suddenly shifted, I knew what I had done. When I heard the 'dink-dink-dink-plop', I had confirmation.

The PO had actually drilled and used a very skinny pin as a slug stop, but for some reason I just didn't feel like using it. I am now. Especially since I don't have a clamp-type slug stop any more.