[Rhodes22-list] Shortening Sail

Thu Aug 7 09:26:27 EDT 2025

I have only two reef points on my continental mainsail. The first is bout 18” above the foot, the 2nd about 2 feet higher. 
I have used them both. It is sort of a Jiffy reef system, but ‘jiffy’ is up for definition in this case. 
BTW - I have a spare Continual mast. If anyone wants/needs it, it will be free to pic up. 
BTW-2 I found a guy that will sand blast and reinforce my trailer to last  for awhile, so my search for a new one has concluded. 
Ric 
Dadventure 

> On Aug 7, 2025, at 9:13 AM, Todd Tavares <tavares0947 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Roger,
> 
> I also have a standard mainsail. None of my mains have reef points (I have
> 3). One is a brand new- never used sail without reef points.
> 
> This may be a stupid, not thought out question, but:
> If I took or sent the new main to a sail loft to get 2 reef points added,
> would they know where they will need to be? ...meaning is  distance from
> the foot up to each of the reef points a mathematical function of sail
> shape, luff or foot length or total sail area etc?? Or is it just
> preference?
> 
> I also noticed from your pictures that the reef points are not parallel to
> the boom. I'd assume this is to keep the leech tight since you are above
> any leech line adjustability...but I also remember you saying you purposely
> had your mainsail made extra roachy. Any input or expert suggestions, (or
> actual measurements) would be greatly appreciated.
> 
> Todd T.
> 
> On Thu, Aug 7, 2025, 3:00 AM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com> wrote:
> 
>> Hi Paul,
>> 
>> Enclosed are 3 photos of my boat.  The 1st shows the mainsail laid out on
>> the ground.  As you can see, I have 3 jiffy reef points.  To use reef
>> points 2 & 3, I have to remove the lower batten.
>> 
>> 
>> [cid:c51d757e-0988-4112-95f0-2deaf1e2c252]
>> 
>> The second picture shows my boat on a light air spinnaker reach.  As you
>> can see, I fly my triradial spinnaker with a spinnaker furling sock.  You
>> can see it in the photo all bunched up on top of the sail.  There is also a
>> spinnaker pole vang.  But, on this light air day, it wasn't necessary to
>> keep the spinnaker pole level.  As you can see from the nearly calm water,
>> we are still moving in almost no wind.
>> 
>> [cid:e2b8eaa0-d8d4-43de-817c-ed360ebda0a3]
>> The 3rd picture shows some of the details of my foredeck.  My boat is
>> rigged to fly a triradial spinnaker as well as a cruising spinnaker.  As
>> you can see, I have a bimini top as well.
>> 
>> [cid:2f9b051a-685d-4d1d-9127-35332d9ace5f]
>> 
>> Roger Pihlaja
>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>> 1976  Sanford, MI
>> ________________________________
>> From: Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> on behalf of
>> Paul Rhodes <plrhodes29 at gmail.com>
>> Sent: Wednesday, August 6, 2025 11:44 PM
>> To: The Rhodes Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Shortening Sail
>> 
>> Hello All,
>> 
>> I’ve finally gotten our new-to-us 1990 Rhodes 22 out on the water, and it
>> was a blast!  Two separate days on Lake Murray near Columbia SC, both with
>> forecasted winds of 8-10, yet very different actual strengths.  First day
>> out, my elder son and I discovered that “New Mercies” moves very well in
>> light to moderate air.  Second day out, a friend of his and I discovered
>> that her full rig is way too much for whatever we had, which I would guess
>> at 12-15 mph, if the first day’s 8-10 was accurate.  However, the flared
>> gunwale held firm and we flew!  Our rails are well washed.
>> 
>> Given that our two sailboats for the last 4 decades were a heavy wooden
>> 22ft gaff fractional sloop and a 40 ft yawl of a more classic Phil Rhodes
>> design, I found the Rhodes 22 to be much more responsive both to me and the
>> weather, for better and for worse.  She’ll make me a better sailor too.
>> And I have some questions:
>> 
>> First, I’m curious to know if the sail numbers relate to the order of
>> construction, as they do in many classes.  “New Mercies” wears #444, and we
>> don’t have any evidence of a different number or previous name.
>> 
>> More importantly, when the Commodore comes aboard for a cruise, I’m pretty
>> confident that she will prefer a more level boat.  For those of you like us
>> still using a non-furling main, how do you shorten sail?  As we needed to
>> on our second day, we simply rolled in the jib a bit.  It worked, but was
>> pretty sloppy. Any thoughts on keeping the jib shaped when it’s partially
>> furled?  Our jib furler is very simple: just the sail track with a disk on
>> the bottom that for the most part keeps the furling line off the deck.  Not
>> sure whether this is what other boats have, but so far it works.
>> 
>> As for the main, there is a second grommet that could serve as the tack
>> for a first reef, but no reef points.  However, the fittings on the boom
>> are only at the ends.  It seems like I could reef to any amount (at least
>> up to the first batten) by simply taking the boom out of the mast track and
>> rolling it to take on the sail.  I like the concept - similar to what was
>> on our yawl.  Yet with the boom detached unlike on the yawl, I could see
>> that this might become a very lively operation if we didn’t reef early
>> enough.  Does anyone have experience or thoughts about this?
>> 
>> Finally, we’re in the market for a Boom Room, Bimini, and boat cover.
>> I’ve left a few messages and sent a few emails about them with no replies.
>> It seems likely that we’ll need to have them made.  Does anyone have plans
>> or patterns we could use?
>> 
>> Thanks so much.
>> 
>> Glad to be part of the Rhodie band,
>> Paul and Nancy Rhodes
>> S/V New Mercies
>> Chapin, SC and Savannah, GA
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
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>> 

Richard F. Stott, AIA, LEED AP 
ric at stottarchitecture.com
C- 516-965-3164