USGG 100-Ton Master Captain Jeff Vegas

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Sailors Should Understand Reefing: Smooth Sailing in Rough Winds!

Sailing is a thrilling adventure, but as wind speeds increase, your vessel gets overpowered. That’s when it becomes crucial to manage your sails effectively in order to keep the boat and your crew safe. Reefing is the term used to refer to reduce sail area for strong winds. In this article I’ll layout what you need to know about reefing, including when to reef, how to do it, common mistakes to avoid, and tips for reefing on a catamaran or trimaran.

What is Reefing?

Reefing is the process of reducing the area of a sail in response to increasing wind speeds. By reefing, sailors can maintain control of the boat and prevent the sails from overpowering the vessel.

This sailboat is heeled over quite a bit.

When to Reef

I don’t know about you but I enjoy it when we are heeled over on a monohull, however, the truth is that the boat is less efficient when it’s heavily heeled, and your rigging is under extra strain, which can lead to costly problems. Excessive heeling can also be uncomfortable for your passengers, possibly inducing seasickness. If your boat is heeling excessively, it’s a sign that you probably should reef.
If you are experiencing “weather helm” (it’s challenging to control the wheel or tiller and/or keep your boat on course), reefing can improve control.

As a general rule, it’s a good idea to reef when the wind reaches around 15-20 knots, depending on your boat’s size and design, and modern boats will often have specific manufacturer recommendations about when to reef. You’ll want to be familiar with these recommendations for catamarans and trimarans as they will not heel nearly as much as a monohull, so you can unknowingly put extra strain on your sailboat.

How to Reef with typical sails (sails that raise/lower as opposed to furling)

1. Prepare the Boat: Ensure all crew members are wearing safety gear and are prepared for the maneuver. You may want to heave to if you are unfamiliar with the reefing system you are working with.
2. Lower the Sail: Ease the halyard to lower the sail just a little lower than the desired reefing point.
3. Secure the Reef Points: Attach the reefing lines to the sail at the designated reef points and tighten them to secure the sail. It should be noted that there are multiple ways reefs can be secured and it is important to understand how the reefing system works on any boat you are going to be on, before you shove off. If wind predictions show that you are likely to need to reef, it is better to do it at the dock in most cases.
4. Raise the Sail: Hoist the sail back up, ensuring it is properly tensioned and secured.

High winds means it’s probably time to reef your sails.                                                                                                         Image by Stefan Schweihofer from Pixabay

How to Reef with furled sails

Some sails will have marks on the sail showing recommended reef points. This is most common on head sails (jib or genoa), but I have seen these on mainsails that furl. These can be a vertical line or large colored dots.

The vertical red fabric on the furled sail is a reef point.

How to Know When to Reef a Catamaran or Trimaran

• Sail Area: Catamarans and trimarans typically have a larger sail area relative to their size compared to monohull boats. As a result, they may need to be reefed earlier in higher wind speeds.
• Windward Performance: If your catamaran or trimaran is struggling to maintain a course into the wind, it may be time to reef to reduce sail area and improve windward performance.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Waiting Too Long: Reefing early is better than waiting until it’s too late. It’s easier to shake out a reef than to reef in a hurry.
• Improperly Securing Reef Points: Ensure that the reefing lines are properly attached and tensioned to avoid flapping sails or damage.
• Over- or Under-Reefing: Follow the guidelines for reefing based on wind conditions. Under-reefing can lead to excessive heeling and strain on the vessel, while over-reefing can reduce sail efficiency.

Reefing in Different Conditions

• Heavy Weather: In strong winds and rough seas, it’s essential to reef early and often to maintain control and prevent damage to the sails and rigging.
• Light Winds: Even in light winds, it may be necessary to reef to prevent excessive heeling and maintain a comfortable sailing experience.

Maintenance and Care

Regularly inspect your reefing gear for wear and tear. Clean and lubricate the reefing lines and hardware to ensure smooth operation when reefing is required.

Mastering the art of reefing is essential for any sailor looking to sail safely and comfortably in varying wind conditions. By knowing when to reef, how to do it, and common mistakes to avoid, you can ensure that you’re always prepared to handle whatever the wind and sea throw your way.

Fair Winds
Captain Jeff Vegas
Watch video testimonials for Captain Jeff Vegas by clicking this link

Unleash the Power of Heave-To: A Sailor’s Secret Weapon!

Sailing is a graceful negotiation with nature, a constant interplay between mastering the wind’s force and adapting to the sea’s mood. Among the open-water sailor’s essential skills, perhaps none is as adaptable and crucial as the technique of heave-to. This maneuver proves invaluable in various conditions, particularly when facing challenging sea states or large swells.

sailboat in open water
Image by Fabien from Pixabay

What is Heave-To?

Heaving-to is a sailing technique that effectively halts the boat’s forward motion while maintaining stability. It’s a strategic pause button in open water, allowing sailors to wait out a storm, take a break, or address an issue without dropping anchor.

How to Heave-To

The process of heaving-to varies slightly depending on your boat’s design, but the basic principle remains the same. Here’s a general guide:

Begin with your jib fully deployed such as would be needed for a close reach. Then, tack without moving the jib or the jibsheet, and put the boat at a 90 degree angle off of the wind (beam reach). This will “backwind” the jib (put it on the wrong side of the mast). Next, completely release the mainsheet, which should de-power your mainsail (be careful of this on a Catamaran, you don’t want the sail caught in the shrouds). Adjust the rudder to counter your jib. If using a tiller, push the handle most of the way to windward. A boat with a wheel should turn the wheel most of the way to leeward. You want enough rudder angle to keep the boat at a 90 angle to the wind but not so much that it turns sharply.
Then adjust as needed: Fine-tune your sails and rudder to find the right balance. You should feel the boat settle into a steady, controlled drift. The fact that your beam is broad to the waves concerns people. Don’t let it concern you. The swell will approach the boat and then swirl around it. It’s pretty cool actually!

Sailing skills
Heave to, step by step

When to Heave-To

Stormy Weather: Heaving-to can provide a stable platform in rough seas, reducing the strain on the boat and crew. When weather conditions are unfavorable for sailing, and there are no safe bays to wait it out, heaving-to can be a safer alternative to continuing on or anchoring.
Man Overboard: Heaving-to can give the crew time to recover a person who has fallen overboard. In fact, I would argue it’s the best Man OverBoard (MOB) method for a catamaran.
Reefing: If you are unable to reef while underway, heaving to is an option.

Benefits of Heaving-To

Safety: It’s a valuable tool for managing challenging conditions and emergencies.
Rest: It allows your crew to rest without losing significant ground or anchoring.
Control: Maintains control and stability in heavy weather or when navigating tricky passages.

Heave-to is not just a technique; it’s a skill that every open water sailor should master – but practice under calm conditions. It’s a versatile tool that can make your sailing experience safer, more comfortable, and more enjoyable. So, the next time the winds pick up or you need to take a break far from shore, remember the art of heave-to. It might just be the perfect solution.

Fair Winds
Captain Jeff Vegas
Watch video testimonials for Captain Jeff Vegas by clicking this link

 

A Different Kind of Pirate Attack

On September 23, 2019 I received a notification from my credit monitoring subscription that someone had applied for credit using my name, Social Security Number, and date of birth. I called the creditor and let them know it was fraud. On October 10, 2019 I received another notification… a different creditor. I called them. On October 11 same thing & on October 15 same thing so I “froze” my Experian file… On October 17 I received a notification that Experian blocked an attempt to access my credit and that there was a “hit” to my Transunion profile. (I thought I was freezing Transunion & Equifax on 10/15 also – oops!) I then spent some time ensuring that all 3 were “frozen”… 5 “hard” inquiries to my credit report inside of about 3 weeks. Ouch! 4 out of 5 of the creditors said they would report to the bureaus that those inquiries were fraudulent and that it could take 90 days for those to fall off my report. So, while I was in the Equifax site, I decided I would try to expedite cleaning up my credit and I disputed the 3 inquiries that had showed up there plus 2 addresses that were never my addresses.

Pirates don’t just attack boats from boats… sometimes they use computers           (Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash)

I should mention that the first time this ever happened to me was in 2008 and it typically happens 1-2 times a year (until 2 week prior to this point) so those addresses may or may not have come from those inquiries. Oh, and did I mention that 3 of those 5 applications resulted in approved credit? In any case, when Experian finished reviewing my dispute, they removed the 2 bogus addresses but told me that the inquiries had happened… so they could not remove them and if I wanted them removed, I had to contact the creditor and ask them to report it as fraud.

At this time I believed that no one could make an inquiry on my credit. If I want to apply for a credit card, car loan or mortgage, I need to “unfreeze” my report long enough for the lender to check my credit, and then, of course, I’ll want to freeze them again. It’s going to be a hassle, but not as big a hassle as the hours I spent on the phone unwinding all the above mess.

Here’s the bummer… credit monitoring isn’t always cheap… I get 1 service free courtesy of my Capital One Credit Card and 1 service free for a year because some company that had my information was breached and as part of a settlement, they offered affected consumers that option (and I took it). [Note: this started happening to me long before the above noted breach.] I strongly recommend you contact your credit card companies and see if their membership offers that as a perk. If it’s free, get it! Seriously! Just get it. And based on my personal experience, if you do not have a company offering it to you for free, you may want to consider paying for it. Be careful about the options you choose though. I’ve been poking around the internet and it looks like most companies that do offer a subscription offer a “1 bureau” option… there are 3 credit bureaus and they don’t all get checked by all creditors. If someone applies for credit with a company that does not check the one you are having monitored, then you still won’t know until they have run up a large bill and I (fortunately) do not know what the process is for unravelling that mess! Of course, another proactive approach would be to contact all 3 bureaus and just freeze your credit, like I have (finally) done.

Freeze your credit today, FREE!           (Photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash)

Here’s how to freeze your credit at all 3 bureaus…

First, what is the difference between a “freeze” and a “lock”? You ready for this? A fee! If you “lock” your credit, the bureaus charge you a fee, if you “freeze” your credit they don’t and there is NO OTHER DIFFERENCE! (I swear)

Go to www.transunion.com/credit-freeze and create an account. You will need to answer some questions that hopefully only you can answer (like “which one of these 5 lenders have you ever had an account with?”). They do that to ensure that you are really you, of course. Then you’ll create a 6-digit pin – put that PIN in a very safe place. Now your Transunion credit file is frozen and cannot be accessed until you log back in and give that PIN.

Then go to www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services – similar process as above.

Then, if you have a Capital One card and have taken advantage of their CreditWise program, log into that and freeze your Experian file. (that’s how I did it). Or you can go to www.experian.com/freeze/center.html and I’m sure the process is quite similar to the other 2 bureaus.

Do you even know what is on your credit report?

Did you know you can get a free copy twice a year? (of course, if your file is “frozen” you’d have to “unfreeze” to get a copy). If you have not gotten 2 free copies already this calendar year, stop right now and visit all 3 bureaus online – If you wait until you want a car loan, or credit card or mortgage to find out what yours says, you may find out you have a lot of cleaning up to do before you can get that loan… they can charge you for your credit score, but not to see what good and bad things are on your report. Go check right away…

Because it can even get worse!

On July 18, 2022, I received an email from Experian. The subject line read: Notification of Change of email address

My fingers trembled as I opened it, and this is what I saw

So, I am praying that this is email a scam, right? Someone is trying to bait me into giving them the kind of information needed to access my credit files? So I immediately tried to log into my Experian account and I could not because this email was legitimate. Someone, with all of my information (Social, Date of Birth, etc), convinced Experian that they were me, and that they no longer had access to the email address associated with my Experian profile and Experian let them change the email address! Are you F***ING KIDDING ME? Anyone who knows anything about cybersecurity knows that a common lie told by these cyber pirates is “I don’t have access to that email anymore”. The proper procedure would have been for Experian to email the address on file and see if I responded before changing the email address, but they did not do that!

IDIOTS!

I finally got it resolved and locked down but holy crap! And, it’s not like I can stop doing business with Experian if I don’t trust the way the keep my information secure!

If you think this can’t happen to you, you’re wrong.

Of course I hope it never does, but I strongly recommend you freeze all three credit bureaus today!

Do you need a sailboat delivered? Do you want sailing lessons? Do you want to charter a sailboat and need a captain? Contact me!

Fair Winds
Captain Jeff Vegas

Did You Know This About Sailboats?

The earliest known sailboats were built in Mesopotamia around 3000 BC.
The first sailboats were made of reeds and rushes.
The first sails were made of animal skins.
The first masts were made of wood.
The first sails were rectangular.
The first sailboats were used for fishing and transportation; they were not very fast and could not sail upwind.
They were also not very maneuverable, safe, comfortable, reliable, or affordable. They were also not very popular.

Photo by Jessica McClure on Unsplash

Over time, sailboats have become more and more sophisticated. Today, sailboats are used for racing, cruising, and recreation. They can be found all over the world, and they come in a wide variety of sizes and styles.

Here are some other things you may not know about sailboats:

  • The largest sailboat ever built was the French yacht France II, which was launched in 1969. It was 236 feet long and had a mast that was 220 feet tall.
  • The fastest sailboat ever recorded was the hydrofoil catamaran Spirit of Australia, which set a world record of 58.17 knots (66.88 mph) in 1988.
  • The most famous sailboat in the world is probably the America’s Cup yacht, which is raced every four years.
  • The most popular type of sailboat in the world is the dinghy, which is a small, single-handed boat that is easy to sail.
  • The most challenging type of sailboat to sail is the ocean racer, which is designed to sail long distances in rough seas.
  • The most relaxing type of sailboat to sail is the cruising yacht, which is designed for comfort and convenience.
Photo by Katherine McCormack on Unsplash

Sailboats are a great way to enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise. They are also a great way to learn about the marine environment. If you are thinking about getting a sailboat, be sure to do your research and choose a boat that is right for you.

Here are some additional tips for owning a sailboat:

  • Take sailing courses before you buy your own boat (I offer private instruction).
  • Join a sailing club or association.
  • Consider a shared boat arrangement.
  • Get to know other sailors in your area.
  • Keep your boat in good condition.
  • Make sure your boat is properly insured.
  • Be prepared for changes in the weather.
  • And most of all, have fun!

Fair Winds,
Captain Jeff Vegas

What is the Baja Bash?

You can have a birthday bash, which is a great party on your birthday.
or…
A bully could bash in your face with his fist… that would hurt.

The Baja Bash is the second kind of bash.

Passing El Arco in Cabo San Lucas as we began the Baja Bash

Many consider heading from south San Diego down to Cabo San Lucas by sailboat a fun trip. In fact, they have turned it into a whole cruiser’s rally called the Baja HaHa. Going the other way, however, has been dubbed the Baja Bash. Why? Because the seas are rough, especially in 3 spots. Additionally, the wind and current are on your nose, pretty much the whole time (well the wind the whole time and the current, a lot). I recently completed my first Baja Bash as a delivery Captain, bringing a Hunter 420 north with another Captain, and the owner of the boat.

Often, deliveries are done with two people, however due to the nature of the Bash, the owner decided a third was a really good idea (or maybe his insurance company required three… that is happening more and more often). If you don’t know, a USCG Captain can work up to 12 hours in a day, so a crew of two would meet that requirement, however three experienced sailors made this turbulent excursion manageable.

The path we took

Timing the weather, we raised anchor from Bahia de Cabo San Lucas as the sun was rising on a Wednesday and headed for what is typically expected to be the second roughest part of the voyage. That first several hours was pretty much what we expected. Our rotation was 3 hours at the helm and 6 hours “off”, so my first attempt to get some rest seemed like trying to fall asleep while riding a bull.

To be fair, it wasn’t actually that rough, but I struggled to find the right comparison and I refused to use AI to help me LOL. I was definitely bashed an inch or two into the air from my bed repeatedly during that time. To make it more interesting, (as if the seas were not enough of a challenge) the autopilot was not working properly and we chose to take advantage of this calmish (compared to usual) weather “window” and hand steer, rather than spending the time to try to repair the AP and miss that “window”, which would have set us back about four days based on the forecast. After two days, we pulled into a bay to repair the AP and rest a little before proceeding.

I’m not going to tell the whole story here, so if you are the type that likes to read part of a book and then skip to the end, you’re gonna like this. At approximately 10 PM on a Friday, the 10th day after waiving goodbye to El Arco, betweeen Playa de los Amantes (Honeymoon Beach) & Playa del Divorcio (Divorce Beach), we docked in San Diego and enjoyed a real home cooked meal and slept longer than 4 hours in a bed that was on a stable surface.

The safe end of the Baja Bash
Safely at the dock in San Diego after 10 days

In case you’re wondering, I enjoyed the approximately 850-mile voyage. Sure it was challenging, but I was at sea, which is when I am at my happiest. And although conditions were rough, the three of us, and the vessel were safe at all times.

If you want some tips to help you make the Baja Bash a little easier on you and your vessel, I highly recommend this book. If you want to hire a licensed delivery captain to bring your boat up north from anywhere in Mexico, please reach out to me.

Fair Winds,
Captain Jeff