SO379/389 3rd reef/staysail

[edonalbertine]

Hi all

My 389 is an awesome machine but I reckon it needs a 3rd reef which is not supplied. Has anyone got pix of how they organised this as a permanent feature?

Second question is whether anyone has tried - I know it's probably a long shot - to install an inner forestay and fly a staysail? I have a feeling that this is regarded as impractical by most 379/389 owners but I would be fascinated to see if anyone has done it.

My early feeling with my boat is that, offshore in big breeze and going to windward, you want more options than you get with the factory-issue sailplan and I have the better quality sails.

Thanks for any assistance in advance etc

[hoppy]

what make boom do you have? Does it have single line reefing?

I have zspars and it was as simple as repeating the setup used for the first 2 reefs on the other side. If you have selden with the blocks inside the boom, perhaps it's more of a challenge. There is always the option to add the 3 reef to the outside of the boom.

[edonalbertine]

Hi hoppy

I have a Seldon rig and yes, it is single-line reefing (as far as I can tell!)

[iancymru]

I am also looking at the third reef options on my SO33. It has a Selden boom with the traveler inside which is a very smooth system but the depth of the reef is governed by the length of travel inside the boom and as such not really suited for a deep 3rd reef. 
Our local charter company uses a fleet of Jeanneaus and have a 379 and a 389. I had a chat with them and they have to have a deep 3rd reef on the main as they are used for training/chartering etc. They have a simple system of a spectacle strop at the luff in the third reef position which is connected to a strop from the base of the mast by a snap shackle with a conventional reefing line at the leech running from the boom up through the third reef cringle back to the aft end of the boom then ford through the boom out to the base of the mast then back to the cockpit.
I was thinking of similar but having the line on the luff running back to the cockpit, in effect making the third reef a two line system but not rigged to the sail permanently but only through the boom to be rigged when heavy weather expected.
I have seen the charter/ training boats out regularly in some really strong winds with the third reef in and genoa well furled, they usually the only boats out and seem to be coping well with the conditions.

[JEF]

Hi Edonalbertine

Goldfinch SO379 standard sail plan..

After taking advice from a respected rigging company we had a 3rd reef put in by my preferred sail maker the reefing system used was as described by iancymru in the charter yachts he takes about.

In several training runs in varied conditions we find this works well with no issues so would recommend this system.

Since fitting however must say to date (touch wood) we have not had to use the 3rd reef in anger but we feel that much safer in the knowledge its their if we need it . We took the decision to fit the 3rd reef after in the first year of ownership sailing upwind we ran into some very.. very  bad weather and the yacht needed such a set up .... that day it was hard work to get her home.

Fi .. Another point when we had the 3rd reef fitted I also gave my sail maker instruction to fit a Cunningham cringle very useful one to consider.

 

With regard to inner forestay question .... I know their is a preferred fixing point to install an inner forestay and early days I did consider installing one but after discussions with more senior & experienced sailors than myself we decided to leave it.

The mistake I made when we specified the yacht was to go with the standard sails should have gone with self tacking jib and code zero option that would have given us more gearing options.

You can see why this yacht type is so popular... its is a great all round yacht and we have never regretted buying her... all the best.   

[iancymru]

Good idea wrt getting a cunningham cringle put in at the same time perhaps with a spectacle strop fitted  as can be used with the 3rd reef luff line. 

[JEF]

Thanks .... Rigged the Cunningham on a separate bit of string and back to cockpit on extra clutch .... its another tweek that is very much worth considering.

[edonalbertine]

Thanks Jim, Ian and hoppy

I will take that to my sailmaker and think about the Cunningham option. I agree that this is a superb boat - I've had mine since June and am delighted with her. Nimble, quick and fun. As I mentioned, I have the higher spec sails and the main, in particular, is a great piece of work. I can see all the reasons not to bother with trying to retro-fit a (removable) inner forestay, but if there is anyone among the hundreds of 379 owners out there who has done it, I'd love to see what you did and what is involved.



ATB

Ed