Hobie Cat Forums

I'm just a deck hand so hope this question doesn't seem to simple.

Looking at Wave features: Fully-Battened, Multi-Colored Square-Top, Dacron

but for Options: Patented Multi-Colored Zipper Reefing Sail.

Is there a difference that matters to these sails?

Is it wouth the cost

The zipper reef sail is the same sail but with a zipper added. The removed panel / sail area reduced is great for small kids learning to sail in moderate wind. Personally... being 210... I use the full sail at all times and would never "reef" the Wave.

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

I'm 165 pounds and have been wondering about options for reefing. Where I sail it's not uncommon to get sustained winds up to 25 knots, which is a handful even in the Wave, particularly if you're doing some distance rather than racing around the cans.

Rather than putting a zip in the sail, I'm thinking of just getting a sailmaker to put some reinforced eyelets about a third of the way up from the foot of the sail, then to reef just tightly roll the bottom third of the sail, lash this tightly, and hook the mainsheet onto the reduced main. Just an idea at present, but I'll post pics if I go through with it.

Has anyone else experimented with reefing the main on the Wave?

stuart

I envy you if you sail somewhere where winds do that and conditions are still ok for going out.

To me, the zipper sail or some reefing setup has always looked like a practical answer to overly windy conditions. But I haven't seen the need to invest. Curious of what results you get.

However, got two extra battens to add for windy conditions. Putting two battens in the lower pockets is supposed create something like a boom and flatten the sail out. The draft or pocket of the sail is less, cuts the power. Not used them yet, though, only because opportunity hasn't come up.

Last season, did have one batten "relax" and had to replace it. Kept noticing pocket growing and new batten fixed it.

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Wave
FX-1
Do you want me to tell you for the 1,000,001 time! The Wave...

Personally unless you have kids sailing the boat there is no reason at all to reef the main on a wave. Im 185lbs and solo the wave in 30knts and LOVE it. I am an experienced sailor, but anything more than 30knts are you sure you want to go out in it?

Todd, if you're comfortable in 30 knots, you're a better sailor than me! Double battens in the lower pockets sounds like an excellent idea -- thanks JJ.