Swallow Yachts Association
Swallow Yachts Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: whale on 23 Apr 2023, 19:04
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Proud new owner of BRE 122 "Patience". A real joy to sail at the sametime tons to learn. My past ketch was a Sea Pearl 21. On this boat, which did not have a jib, you reefed the missen and the main to keep the balance. Would appreciate your thoughts and experience with a reefing strategy/sequence for the BRE. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
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I’m glad you’re enjoying the BRE. We loved ours.
We didn’t have a set sequence for reefing, as it depended on the conditions. In light winds we sailed her with full sail and no ballast. (We'd previously done a lot of dinghy sailing, so didn’t mind sitting on the side to balance her.) When it was windier and there were choppy waves, we used to put ballast in first to help us punch through the waves, then reef the main if it got windier. In flat water we'd put the reef in the main first and would add ballast if the wind got up more. (We were nervous about going deep downwind with full sail and ballast in in a lot of wind (force 5 plus) as it puts a lot of strain on the rig - everything feels very loaded up if you do that.) If it got really windy, then we sailed under just jib and mizzen. She went brilliantly off the wind with just two sails, but it was harder trying to get her to go to windward like that.
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Thanks so much for the response and information !
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Reefing sequence, to maintain best windward performance. For original Gunter rigs, not the odious USA rig:
Start with reefing the main, once, twice.
Next, take in jib.
Finally, take in the mizzen.
At which stage you fill the tank is up to you.
At the final stage, with ballast in and under double reefed main you can sail BRs fully controlled in weather you would not like to be out in.
Claus
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Thanks for the insight and information.