Judging when to reef, sail area by wind force
Judging by wind force, the first reef goes in at five Beaufort, the second at six,
and the old rule still holds: if you are thinking about reefing, you should already have reefed.
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The right sail area depends on the boat, the course and the crew, but the rough figures barely change: full sail up to four Beaufort, the first reef at five, the third reef or the storm jib at seven. Overcanvassed boats reef earlier, heavy cruising yachts later.
Reefing too late is the most common cause of damage to the rig. An overloaded forestay, a parted halyard, a broken boom: none of these happen suddenly. They are the end of a long period of overloading.
Full hull cover usually insures masts, spars and booms that break or buckle, and sails that split. Some policies apply a fixed age limit to the mast and its rigging; others look at the cause of the damage, not the year of build.
Frequently asked questions
When should I reef?
The first reef at five Beaufort.
If you are thinking about it, it is usually already time.
Is a broken mast covered?
Usually under full hull cover.
That depends on the policy: some apply a fixed age limit to the rig, others do not.
Worked out for your type of boat
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