Our 36'er has a similar system. It still needs some tweaking, but reefing the 47ft luff takes just 55 seconds, from the time I walk away from the wheel to the time I'm back at the wheel, with the sail neatly stowed in the bag.
In general, I'm besotted with the short overlap fractional rig. You can go from zero to 25 knots or so just by pulling or easing a few strings (vang, traveller, backstay, etc) by hand, and the sails remain very nicely shaped at all times. It does take give you a narrower groove than reefing or changing down, though. We had a reefing #2 when we got the boat, but a furling #3 seems to be better in almost every way; the extra efficiency more than makes up for the loss of area.
Select to expand quotesirgallivant said..
To complete the picture, as l sail mostly single handed, l modified the reef line.
To add, l really got four reefs if we include the flattening reef which takes out only 0.6sqm of sail but when l run, it helps with the lowered head to scandalize the main! Also, the Cunningham is living with a similar hook, like the reef line, so l can unhook it and control the tack reefing-cringle tension with it to a certain extent.
Instead of first, second and third reef lines and it's associated turning blocks and spider web, l use a single line running inside the boom and an attached hook at the end of it, which l hook into the appropriate reef cringle at the clew while the tack-ring on the strop is put on the horn. It lifts the foot of the sail by a few inches helping with the higher position for the boom sliders to accommodate the bunt.
Yeah, l know, l must go to the mast with this set up - it's a 28 footer 'only' - but on the way l can adjust the boom slider and clamps for the boom reefing marks for the turning block which is held in place by two adjustable sliding clamps.
The system works perfectly, l use an 8mm reef line and l can work it, and the out-haul by sitting on the top of the open companion way. The boom's got it's own winch.
I know it is unusual, l call it innovative, but it works well.
SirG. My 28 footer was set up for racing by the previous owner so I suspect it's been sailed in all kinds of weather and
yet it only has one reefing point on the mainsail. It's not a particularly big sail in my opinion, but. is one reefing point enough ??.
I'll have to modify the statement about the size of the mainsail, I must have been comparing it with
Wild Oats X when he thunders by. My boom is ten foot long and the sail does have a roach so I guess
it's about as big a mainsail that the boat can carry, but still only has one reefing point.
Presume, that you only sail with your head sail in fine weather, yes.
Otherwise, no. But this is my opinion.
I own a 'cruiser-racer' but l don't want to pretend as a racer.
I race on an Adams 10.6 which has one reef in the main but we never ever used it in the last 6 years. Does not have a reef line bent. Imo it's foolish, but he rather fights the elements than suffer the indignity of a reef. 
The reef is there for a reason and it's use does not necessarily mean less speed, quite the contrary in most cases, (see Chris's worthy comment above!) but one is powerless when the firm belief of "more sail means higher speed" is followed, no matter what.
One can see reefed sails on cruisers even in a modest breeze when comfort is preferred to pointing and speed.
Seldom on an inshore race boat.
Offshore, it is more likely but only on main sails as they prefer to change head sails to reefing them by furling or dedicated reef lines, which is an old and dyeing cruiser custom. In the times of Moitessier and Chichester it was common practice.
Right SirG. Yes we sail for comfort not speed. Time was when we sailed with headsail only in a moderate
breeze, but having read the blogs on 'balancing' the boat we now sail with the main up but reefed on its
one point. That way if we get a decent gust it doesn't knock us over before I can ease it. I guess the way
we sail means we don't really need a second or third reefing point but the previous owner must have
raced like your Adams skipper....to reef is an indignity....Ha, we'll go for comfort every time. As I've said
before....we sail for fun.
Sam the Cole 35 I raced was a masthead rig ,as is yours, and even though the main had two reefs we only ever used the first and then only if playing the mainsheet , tightening the Cunningham and outhaul and cranking on the hydraulic backstay did not work . May have used the second reef a couple of times only.
Unlike fractional rigs where the main is the driving sail the right headsail is the critical factor on mastheads .Never having had a furler I don't know how efficient they are for trimming in a blow . We had twin tracks on the forestay . My little Sonata is also masthead and I find even with only a 100% jib up I am having to reef the main very early (15/20 knots)
as being solo I have no crew to hang over the side .
My genoa, 115%, is too big for anything over 22-24 knots for comfort so l furl it and use the cutter sail.
It's more convenient. Might leave it out a bit like a reacher but upwind it's not much good.
When one is sailing in squally weather one might keep the traveller and main lines handy to ride out the squall. Like a big dinghy.
Select to expand quoteshaggybaxter said..
Boty, I'm surprised you remember what a reef is! Pagan doesn't need a reef, in fact I think she'd fight you if you tried.
no we always reef when it gets much over 35
