Gaff Sail Reefing System

[Obrien1234]

Hi All,

I’ve been searching but can’t seem to find a good example of a preset reefing system for a gaff rigged mainsail. I’ve designed one myself, but does anyone have any good ideas or know of any examples for easy reefing? In the past we’ve always tied the tack down and the clew down and back at the dock. The back of the boom goes way beyond the stern. We would like an easy way to reef underway without having to rerig something every time. Thoughts?

[tenchiki]

Jiffy reefing a gaff sail shouldn't be any different than for a bermudan rig. I suppose that there is no reason you couldn't do a single line reef, if everything else is setup correctly. Check out the youtuber "How To Sail Oceans", who has a jiffy reef setup on his gaffer.

[psk125]

Agree with tenchiki. Your throat and peak halyards may make it more involved, but the foot of the sail should jiffy-reef just fine. You need a tack hook and a reefing line that goes around the boom, up through the reef cringle, back to the end of the boom (to pull the foot tight) and then forward along the boom to a boom mounted winch & cleat, or to blocks that will lead it to the deck and then aft to where it can be tightened and cleated or stopped off.
Under way you ease the sheet to allow the sail to luff and ease the halyards so the tack can be hooked. When that's done you tighten the throat halyard and the clew reefing line, then the peak halyard. Trim the sheet, and you're done.