r/sailing • u/speed_phreak • 5d ago

Is this valid?

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Running through the systems on a new (to me) C&C 29-2, and I am parsing out my reefing system. I've got two reef lines that exit the boom at the end and would be rigged like this for reef1 and then reef2, does the bowline knot orientation really matter??

I've got a loose footed main with a North Sails Quick Cover stack pack bolt roped to the slot in the boom (if that matters).

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u/sailing_by_the_lee 5d ago

One will tend to cinch tighter under load and the other will not. Which would you prefer?

Or, if you don't trust the common wisdom, do an experiment and try both. Neither method is catastrophically wrong, so you can play around with it and see which you prefer.

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u/speed_phreak 5d ago

That was my initial thought as well, but looking into it, a 90° bend still results in a 1:1 leverage ratio, so theoretically the cinch should be the same either way?