Pulling the reef line, procedure is completed when the reef eye in the aft leach is
just touching the boom. Check that the reefing eye forward at the mainsail luff is
approx. 10 or max 15 cm (4” to 6”) over the mainsail boom.
Check that the reefing eye and the reefing line at the luff are not chafing the sail.
Normally, it does not, but sometimes you must go up and "arrange" the sail at
the luff.
To reef out the mainsail again, you go upwind, release the mainsheet with about
60 cm (2 feet), release the reefing lines and pull up the mainsail like you normally
do. Check the reefing lines are running freely. There is some friction in the reefing
lines, so the mainsail boom will lift, and this is why you must fix the mainsheet to
avoid the mainsail boom from lifting too high.
On the Dragonfly 40 Touring, there are only two big active reef positions in the
main sail. For Ocean crossing, we recommend a third reef in the main sail. The DF
40 Ultimate version always has 3 reefpoints standard in the mainsail if the sail is
supplied by the yard.
The DF 40 is prepared for 2 reefing systems, so the third reef is a manual. For
long distance sailing regarding the 3´rd reef, we recommend preparing a reefing
line from the extra third reef on the mainsail down to Reef 2, so you easier can
control the third reef by hand. When using the third reef, the conditions are of
course not the easiest.
Avoid reefing downwind, as the mainsail can/will be blown past and forward of
the side stays and break the battens. Of course, if there is no other way out, you
can do it – but this is NOT recommended.
There
is no way you can reef out again when going downwind.
MAINSAIL:
The mainsail needs much more trimming than on a monohull, especially on the
mainsheet and boomvang, as the boat has a big speed potential, depending on
the wind speed. This calls for concentrated trimming if you want the maximum
speed and fun with your boat. Generally, the leach seen from the backend of the
mainsail boom end to the mast top must be almost straight, no matter what wind
force: the roach must under no circumstances fall out or twist to leeward, unless
the boat is overpowered and pressed too hard, and you are forced to open the
mainsail. Trimming the main in a breeze takes great effort for maximum
performance but makes sailing more fun.
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