Reef points and main sail design.

[David Grimm]

Just took this picture of my main sail. See these little grommets. Should I be tying the sail to the boom through these points when reefing? Also the one all the way at the top of the sail. Is that a 3rd reef point?

Fair winds,

Dave

 

[David Grimm]

 

[Loren Beach]

Your sail has two Reefs.
No idea what a grommet might be for, up near the top.
Looks like the sail also has a "Dutchman" system to help it flake when lowered. No need for lazy jacks, if I understand that scheme. Further, having that system of holding the folds in place, you might not need "reefing ties".

The little row of grommets along each reef are for the "reefing ties" that use light line to tidy up the folds in the reefed sail. Never tied too tightly, tho. They help to reduce windage and flapping, and do not "hold the sail" down. All of the force/strain is taken by the reinforced grommet at the rear, which takes the force to the end of the boom.

 

[David Grimm]

Thanks Loren, Yes thats the Dutchman System. Little tricky setting up but it works. I wouldn't want to have to repair it in a rough sea with any ammout of wind though. It's hard enough to set up each year at the dock. That little grommet at the top then remains a mystery.

 

[Tom Metzger]

David - Having sailed Xanthus for 24 years with a Dutchman on the main I never felt the need for the reefing ties I used on my previous boat.

 

[Christian Williams]

You can ignore them even if you don't have a furling system. The extra sail just hangs there harmlessly. Tying reef points means they have to be untied before shaking out the reef, which is just, well, kinda unnecessary.

I'd say few use the grommets at all these days. Used to be that sails came with ties affixed, one each grommet, on either side of the sail.
Our gaff-rigged oyster boat had three reefs like that. A gaff mainsail is enormous, and all that canvas cloth would be in the way when hanging if not tied down.

On our high aspect ratio rigs with short booms it's just not an issue.