When cruising, the strengthening wind sometimes spoils the ride by making the boat heel terribly. It is necessary to reduce the sail area and by following a few manoeuvring tips, your cruise will be all the more pleasant. Here is how to reduce the genoa mounted on a furling system.
Whatever the season, a sea trip is a wonderful way to enjoy the great outdoors. But when the wind is cooler and the chalkboards and chandeliers plunge into the water, the ride often becomes less fun for the crew.
As a good sailor, the skipper must anticipate sail reduction in order to manoeuvre safely. On our cruising yachts, a genoa reefing system is frequently found to provide the sail of the time. But whatever the configuration of your sailboat, the sail reduction must make the boat less burning and more comfortable.
Reduce headsail
Furling headsails are very widely used on our cruising boats, as they make life easier for sailors.
These sails often have the guide line thickened with foam to limit deformation (catching up with the hollow) once furled. Along the edge, there are usually round markings corresponding to the percentage of reduction of the sail (1 round being more or less equal to 10%).
You can usually roll a sail up to 30% before it loses its shape. As the sail is furled, the genoa carriage should be moved forward. You can read this article to find out how to properly adjust the genoa .
The winding procedure
In order to avoid fighting against a sneaky and lazy sail, it is important to manoeuvre with the right procedure. Therefore, to sail well, you must try to limit the efforts on the equipment and consequently on the crew. The genoa furling line should never be manoeuvred with a winch, the efforts are not meant to be inhumane.
Many boaters tend to go into the wind and shock the sail before furling it. The flapping, sometimes violent, shows the presence of significant forces. In addition, when furling the sail is subject to considerable wear and tear. Finally, the sheets whipping the air represent a real danger for the crew.
The sail should therefore be removed from the wind rather than exposed to it. Folding the genoa down to the downwind will allow the genoa to be unfurled behind the mainsail and make furling much easier. In order to do this properly, and to furl the sail tightly on itself, you must keep a minimum of tension in the sheet.
The major disadvantage of the reefing system is that it does not allow the sail to be tensioned once it has been furled. As a result, it always remains too hollow to sail efficiently upwind.
Other solutions
Reefing: reefed headsails have become widespread on ocean racing yachts and even at the sailing school Les Glénans. A new tack, a new clew, is like a reef in the mainsail, but reefing on the foredeck is more exposed to spray. It's a bit "rustic", but economical, reliable and efficient.
The lower forestay: some yachts have a staysail stay which allows the sail to be ready for use when needed. The sail can be furled on a forestay or furled and folded into a bag. When the wind picks up, this may be the best compromise for performance and longevity.
The changing of the veil: is the manoeuvre that prevailed before the advent of reels. The canvas has to be lowered, carted on deck and secured before bringing a smaller one in its place before being hoisted.
