Last race I had only 1 crew to manage my Elliot 7, that made 2 of us aboard. The wind started with a good 12 knot and then picked up to 18/20 knot, was grossly overpowered and the boat was going to over heeling and not performing.
What would you do?
1. Take 2 reef
2. Fly a nr2 jib
3. Take 1 reef and change to a nr 2 jib
I kept my setup and lost lot of time........... also not easy to reef or change jib when short handed
The reefing would not be too bad actually.
Next race if short handed I am planning to reef before starting if we have the same weather.
Surprisingly it depends on the water conditions. In smooth water, then reefing is like changing to a smaller engine on your car; power is reduced as opposed to being overpowered with full sails. You want to keep your sail plan balanced, so 1 reef and the #2 or #3 jib would be the approach.
But in rougher conditions then Lydia's approach of twisting off the top of the mainsail (and even twisting off the top of the jib as winds build) is the best way to reduce heeling. This is something I do all the time when singlehanding. The thing about twisting off the top is that is allows you to keep a lot of power available when you need it. So if the conditions were rough, then every time you need a boost of power you just steer down by a few extra degrees and have the full mainsail in the wind. This will give you the power boost you need to get back up to full speed. What surprised me was when I interviewed a Figaro Beneteau II skipper for my singlehanded tips book and he told me he doesn't even have reef points, but has sailed in 55 knots. YIKES! He just twists off the top a whole bunch. These guys often sail in rough water and the full sail gives them acceleration power when they need it.
Select to expand quotelydia said..
It is an Elliot 7 ,ease the main sheet pull the traveller up and car back on jib
Yes it is an Eliot 7, I have an adjustable forestay, if I increase the tension on the forestay that will twist the top of the main but will that twist the jib too or will I need to move the jib car toward the front?
Thank you guys, I will try the tips. Sounds very interesting!Select to expand quoteFoolish said..
Surprisingly it depends on the water conditions. In smooth water, then reefing is like changing to a smaller engine on your car; power is reduced as opposed to being overpowered with full sails. You want to keep your sail plan balanced, so 1 reef and the #2 or #3 jib would be the approach.
But in rougher conditions then Lydia's approach of twisting off the top of the mainsail (and even twisting off the top of the jib as winds build) is the best way to reduce heeling. This is something I do all the time when singlehanding. The thing about twisting off the top is that is allows you to keep a lot of power available when you need it. So if the conditions were rough, then every time you need a boost of power you just steer down by a few extra degrees and have the full mainsail in the wind. This will give you the power boost you need to get back up to full speed. What surprised me was when I interviewed a Figaro Beneteau II skipper for my singlehanded tips book and he told me he doesn't even have reef points, but has sailed in 55 knots. YIKES! He just twists off the top a whole bunch. These guys often sail in rough water and the full sail gives them acceleration power when they need it.
Interesting strategy, I'll have a go........ my nr. 1 crew always smile when a suggest reefing.......... His opinion is 'noooooo, reefing is for girls" 
Good pic of 470 heaps of car back and plenty of mainsail twist upwind in breeze with boom still well inside the boat
So Bit back to front there.
Tightening forestay will tighten shrouds and stand rig up.
Depending on balance, rake the rig and move jib car back to open leach
