I’m replacing the running rigging on my new-to-me Nonsuch 26. Some of the old 3/8-inch reefing lines—especially the aft lines—are very difficult to pull through the boom fairleads, so I’m downsizing to 5/16 inch.
I’ve also found that hoisting the main is quite difficult with the reefing lines left rigged through the sail. I tried adding blocks at the leech reef points, but the setup felt a little too complicated and busy when reefing in high winds. My next thought is to try low-friction rings attached to the leech reef points with soft shackles.
How many Nonsuch owners leave their reefing lines permanently rigged through the sail and ready to use? Have you found a setup that reduces friction without adding too much hardware?
We have considered removing the clew reefing lines many times. Not just because of the increased friction but also we don’t like them flapping around. We have never done it because where we sail there is always the chance of the wind increasing quickly due to a squall or summer storm. Ultimately having the ability to reef outweighed other concerns.
We did put small blocks on the leech reef points, reduced the line size and used a more slippery line. All of these things helped incrementally. I’m not convinced that removing the reefing lines will improve ease of raising the sail all that much more.
Thanks Bill. Have you found anything to help with friction at the tack end? I’m assuming the full length of line from the base of the sail to the reef point is already loose before raising the main.
We usually will leave slack in the tack reefing lines at the bottom of the mast. This eliminates friction points between the cockpit and the mast. There is some friction between the lines and the sail grommets as well as the weight of the line but I don’t think these are too significant.
Just a further note, the main reason we installed blocks on the clew reef points was for ease of reefing, not really so much for raising the sail. We do have a powered halyard winch so friction is not as much of a concern.
Cheers
Bill
When I raise my sail for the first time, I adjust the reef lines so that they’re not pulling on the sail but not slack enough to flop around and tangle. Then I secure them and leave them that way. When I drop the sail, the lines fall with it, slack on both sides. I tuck that slack into the sail cover neatly to avoid tangles. That way, when I raise the sail then next time, the lines are pretty much already where they should be. I’m pulling up the weight of the lines, which is not a big add over the weight of the sail, but they’re not adding any friction because they don’t move that much relative to the deck or any of the blocks.
The only time after that when the reef lines actually have to move through the blocks is when I’m raising the sail after having reefed.
If you’re encountering excessive friction, I’d check the blocks the lines are running through before and the age of the line. I don’t think the cringles add much more friction than a low-friction ring. That said, like others who’ve posted, I have blocks at the luff to reduce line chafing.
I also want to ask about your sailtrack and track slides. I think most sail raising resistance comes from there.
I took the leech line from the second reef and tied it to the boom. All the other reef lines are still ready to go. Mostly this was done to improve light wind sail shape.
Raising the sail is probably the most difficult thing to do on a Nonsuch! We make sure everything is loose, especially the outhaul and the sheet. On allegro the two top battens are full length and both were just a little too tight. Once they were eased off a little the raising task was a bit easier.
We downsized to 5/16” it made a big difference in my opinion. I second Bob on how to keep the lines loose so they do not have to be pulled through when raising the sail. I think there was a discussion about this a few months back too.
