What does close reef mean?

(Entry 1 of 2) : the last ordinary reef that can be put in a sail compare balance reef. close-reef.

What are close reefed vessels?

The description of a sailing vessel when her sails have been reduced by furling and reefing to a minimum for strong winds.

What does double reefed mean?

To reef means to partially lower a sail so that it is not as large. This helps prevent too much sail from being in use when the wind gets stronger. When the topsails are double-reefed the waters are getting rougher.

What is a reefed sail?

Reefing is the means of reducing the area of a sail, usually by folding or rolling one edge of the canvas in on itself. The converse operation, removing the reef, is called shaking it out. Reefing allows the carrying of partial sail in strong winds, and is the primary safety precaution in rough weather.

At what wind speed should I Reef?

When to reef? Most boats are designed to require the first reef in around 18 knots apparent wind when sailing to windward. Some lighter, more coastal-orientated boats may struggle in 15 knots while heavier offshore designs will still be happy at 20 knots or more.

What is slab reefing?

By. Slab reefs are a simple, quick way of taking a ‘slab’ out of a sail. They usually consist of a quick-release hook at the front of the boom for the luff reef cringle (usually a ram’s horn) and a line taken from the back of the boom up through the leech reef cringle, down to the boom and then forward to the mast.

What is a reefed parachute?

Reefing is used to slow down the initial shock of the parachute opening for a safer deployment. … Start by sliding the ring up the shroud lines and than when the parachute deploys, the ring will slide down the lines slowly which will cut the shock load.

How do you Hove?

To heave to, trim the storm jib to windward, force the bow off the wind and then tie the helm down to maintain a slightly upwind. The boat will seek an angle approximately 60 degrees off the wind and will then proceed forward at one or two knots.

What does Reef mean in slang?

reef v. to use (excessive) force, especially when hitting, pulling, or twisting (on something).

What is sail flogging?

Flogging: Flogging is the quickest way to damage a set of sails, especially membrane sails made from high-tech fibers like Carbon and Twaron. Neither of these fibers do well when they are repeatedly bent, which is exactly what happens when a sail is allowed to flog. Over time the delicate fibers will slowly fatigue.

Which sail is the jib?

triangular sail A jib is a triangular sail that sets ahead of the foremast of a sailing vessel. Its tack is fixed to the bowsprit, to the bows, or to the deck between the bowsprit and the foremost mast. Jibs and spinnakers are the two main types of headsails on a modern boat.

What is a storm jib?

Filters. (nautical) A small jib, used in a storm to reduce the sail area to the minimum required for maintaining manoeuvrability of the vessel.

What is a staysail on a sailboat?

A staysail (stays’l) is a fore-and-aft rigged sail whose luff can be affixed to a stay running forward (and most often but not always downwards) from a mast to the deck, the bowsprit, or to another mast (the mast is item 13 in the illustration right).

What is Downhaul on a sailboat?

The downhaul is a line which is part of the rigging on a sailboat; it applies downward force on a spar or sail. … The downhaul is tensioned early in the rigging process and is generally not adjustable on the water, and is therefore rather different in use than the downhaul on a sailboat.

How do you reef a Nonsuch?

Can you reef a self tacking jib?

Reefing of the self-tacking jib is, indeed, not the best idea. When partly furled, the foot gets shorter but you can’t adjust the sheet point forward, meaning more vertical loads on the foot.

Do twin sheets control mainsail?

Registered. Separate twin main sheets are best for controlling the shape of the mainsail. Instead of moving the sheet on the traveler, you can control the fullness of the sail with twin sheets.

Can you sail with just the mainsail?

Can you sail with just the mainsail? Any sailboat can be sailed with the mainsail alone. Using only the mainsail will reduce your speed, but it can make your boat easier to handle, especially by yourself. Furthermore, using a mainsail alone is safer in some circumstances and can increase your visibility.

What is the difference between a genoa and jib?

Jibs are typically 100% to 115% LP and are generally used in areas with heavier winds. … Typically a jib will be no greater than 115% of the fore-triangle dimensions. A genoa is similar to a jib but is larger and reaches past the mast. It will typically overlap a mainsail to some extent.

What is single line reefing?

Single line reefing essentially means that the outboard and inboard reef cringles use one line to tuck (or haul down) both ends of the sail. … Also if you are noticing that the inboard end is tucking sooner than the outboard end, hanging a block from the OB end only may balance the system out a bit more.

What is mast reefing?

What is an in-mast furling mainsail? Unlike a traditional mainsail that is hoisted and doused vertically with a halyard, an in-mast furling mainsail wraps around a tube inside a hollow mast. It is unfurled by an outhaul line and furled back in with a line labelled as the inhaul.

What is meant by hove to?

: in a stationary position with head to wind : at a standstill ore freighters hove to in the fog Richard Bissell lying hove to on the fishing bank.

How do you stop a sailboat fast?

Can a catamaran hove to?

A catamaran will indeed heave-to, though in my experience they make considerable leeway with their shallow keels. … Just like a monohull, a cat should drift calmly at about 40 to 50 degrees off the wind, dramatically easing the boat’s motion, which can seem skittish and uncomfortable to the uninitiated.

What does slithered mean?

1 : to slide on or as if on a loose gravelly surface. 2 : to slip or slide like a snake. transitive verb. : to cause to slide.

How do you use reef in a sentence?

reduce (a sail) by taking in a reef.

1. The ship ran aground on a submerged reef.
2. Waves mountain – high broke over the reef.
3. Lagoon Reef is one of the best resort hotels.
4. An unspoilt coral reef encloses the bay.
5. Our boat foundered on a reef.
6. We went snorkelling along the Great Barrier Reef.

Does reef mean pull?

to pull (old oakum) out of seams, as with a rave hook (often followed by out).