Reefing

Reefing on a sailing ship called the operation to reduce the area of the sail, usually during or in anticipation of bad weather with strong winds.

Reefing is necessary because in high winds more pressure on the sail acts, so that the ship is normally stronger heel ( skew have ) would. Thus the ship (among the sails, the masts ) would unnecessarily strained. Stark heeling ships are also poor maneuverability (see Abwettern ). In addition, reduced by strong heel the speed of a ship ( inter alia because the sails are finally an angle, so that they are no longer optimal in the wind ); the vessel would thus in any case somewhat slow down the inclined position, the reduction of the sail area leads through the reefing only to a limited extent to reduce the speed. Very strong angle may even lead to capsizing of a ship.

The reef must necessarily looking ahead - that is, if possible before the strong increase of the wind - take place, as this activity depending on the rigging (type of sails, masts, etc.) can be dangerous in a storm in heavy seas and strong winds. Instead reefing a sail can also be recovered completely and replaced with a smaller one. In the case of the headsail which can be for example a storm jib (small headsail of very resistant material ), the mainsail a so-called try- sail ( small sail, also made ​​of durable material).

The reef is going to take again a sail as, ausreffen 'or a reef distribute ' means.

Different types of reefing

Reefbow

The reefbow is particularly suitable for mainsail and mizzen. In this case the corresponding sail is hauled down to the main halyard and the luff of a particular piece, the front edge of the sail, hung with an eyelet which is also known as Reffauge or reef point on the tree. The "new" foot of the sail can leech, the trailing edge of the sail, with a leash, the Smeerreep be pulled tight.

In order for the reefed sailcloth does not hit back and forth on the tree, it becomes loose bound in with more lines, the Reffbändseln, the ( " Reffgattchen " ) are fixed in a series of eyelets, on the tree. May alternatively be used to Reffbändseln a Lazy bag which receives the canvas as a bag.

A sail typically has a plurality of reefing lines, so that the canopy surface may be adapted to the wind strength. In this case one speaks of the first, second, third, etc. Reff. The first reef is that while that is the sail area the least reduced in size and placed in high winds first.

Einleinenreff

A special form of Bindereffs represents the Einleinenreff dar. Here, each attached to the reef point and the eye for the Smeerreep a leash. These two lines are merged into a reef line, so that by pulling on the furling line while simultaneously easing the halyard the sail can be reefed easily. Once the desired sail area is reached, the reefing line is set and hauled the main halyard.

A special advantage of the Einleinenreffs is thus that a suspension of the reef point and a tightening of Smeerreeps as in reefbow issued as reefing can be done only from the cockpit.

Reefing

With a furling of the sail is rolled as needed. A headsail is in this case usually wrapped around the forestay, rolled up a wholesale or spanker in the tree or in the mast.

Drehreff

A nearly continuous Reffmöglichkeit similar to the furling allows Drehreff, can be equipped with the smaller sailboats. In this case, the excess cloth of the mainsail is wrapped around the tree, which is to rotate longitudinally ( axially ); after reefing the tree is then secured again against further rotation. In the simplest case, this assurance is achieved with a special gooseneck, the connection between the tree and pole. If the rotation of the tree using a hand crank via a gear or worm gear, one speaks of a godfather fail.

Volksreff

When Volksreff a hand crank on the front of the mast through holes is plugged directly into the rotary tree. The position of the winch on the mast can be adjusted in height and in addition moved to the rear side of the mast with transmission designs.

Rahsegel

In square sails the cloth is reduced by catching up to the yard. Therefore, to the operating team, also called topmen, up into the rigging of the ship. As an alternative, may be called by buntlines here reefing. This is similar to the sail caught by in the canvas bags and incorporated therein extending a curtain rope. In general, these Reffweise is not deemed as effective and suitable for very strong wind. For this reason, only a few square sails of a ship are equipped with it, usually only the upper topsail.

• Sailing