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This will probably sound like a dumb question from someone who has been sailing for a few years, but how do you reef the main on a C&C 27 Mk V? On all the other boats that I have owned, the reefing system was intuitive even without any instructions. On my Mk V, the "intuitive" method appears to stress the sail in several places and the set of the sail is anything but trim. What's the secret?
Gary
Mk V, #512
Gary
Mk V, #512
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Gary:
Based on your hull number #512, it sounds like you have a later model Mark V, probably built in the Bristol R.I. plant, so your set up may be a little different from mine hull #75, built in Niagara on the Lake, but it should be similar. The Mark V's were set up to use a single reef line for the clew (outboard end of the boom)of the main and a tack (inboard end) hook. On my boat there are 2 hooks at the tack, use the appropriate one (windward) side when you put in the reef. The reefing line should lead from the end of the boom (where it exits the boom) up through the clew reef cringle on the sail and then down fully around the boom and lead through an eye strap on the boom and tied off in a stopper knot against the eye strap. Now you are set up to put in a reef. To reef you lower the main until you can put the tack reef cringle over the appropriate tack reef hook and re tension the luff with the main halyard to achieve the appropriate luff tension. Next you take up the slack in the reefing line, which when properly attached becomes a reefing line as well as the outhaul (you may have to ease the mainsheet (and the vang) quite a bit, as you pull tension on the reefing line with the cabin top winch. We can put in a reef in about 30 seconds to no more than a minute (with practice) and the main looks flat and can be "boarded out" if we want and by adjusting the main halyard and or the reefing line we can put more draft into the sail or flatten it as required.
I hope this helps you and if you have any other questions please contact me. BTW whare do you sail out of?
Steve Reid
Still Knot Working MkV #75
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gary's answer is complete. one small point, you can only run the reefing line down from the grommet fully around the boom if (1) the main is loose-footed (like mine-hull #594 from RI) or (2) if you have the sailmaker cut a slot in the foot of a main that is fully attached via bolt rope on the boom-then reinforce the slit with leather. In either case, the eye is not necessary to secure the end-just a clove hitch or slip knot works.
My 1987 Mk V (no. 575) was built in the Rhode Island plant, and it works exacly as described by Steve. It is not loose footed, but has a slot in the foot. I have it rigged for true single line reefing (for my first reef) by running the reefing line from the rear of the boom to the front, down to a block on the deck, back up through the first tack cringle and then down to another block on the deck, then back to the cleat and winch. It works pretty good, though there is enough friction as it pulls through the tack cringle that I have to assist it a little. I don't have to hook the tack cringle onto the reefing hook, but usually do anyway. I would rig my second reef point the same, but my current reefing line is too short.
Barry, Oasis 1987 Mk V
Thanks for the info, Steve. You have confirmed what I suspected, that I have a key piece missing - the eye strap. I don't see any evidence that there ever was one on the boom. I would have thought that this would have been standard equipment from the factory, but the boat has been "around the block" a few times. For all I know the boom was changed some time during the boats life. Everything else you describe matches my layout. I sail on Eagle Mountain Lake in Fort Worth, Texas so the need for a reef isn't really that critical, but I simply don't like having something on board that I don't understand. I have previously owned a Beneteau First 35 and a Cal 25. Both had reefing systems that were easy to use but the reefing line did not have second duty as an outhaul when reefed. That is a nice feature. Thanks again for your help and the words from others on the site. I now know what I need to add to make the system complete.Gary
Mk V, #512
Gary
Mk V, #512
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