Reefing with a sliding gooseneck

[Brion Toss]

Originally Posted by Amgine

Pinning the gooseneck will result in *poorer* sail shape, and will more quickly distort a non-laminate sail material (probably also a laminate, but I don't have experience with those to say with certainty.

Why? What is the difference between a pinned gooseneck and one that is held fixed in place by a downhaul?

A sliding gooseneck with an end stop has one additional step when reefing - tensioning the downhaul. But this is simpler than attempting to tension the luff with the halyard, which with the fixed gooseneck results in working further forward and pulling down, an inherently less-stable position than being aft of the mast and pulling up. Having wrestled with both at night in lousy weather, my opinion is the slider is simpler in practice despite the additional step.

I think we agree here. I am just substituting a Cunningham for a downhaul. Note that I said that tensioning the halyard to tighten the luff is a bad idea.

The sliding gooseneck can allow a lower c of e; that was in fact part of the point of *not* switching to the fixed gooseneck.

It depends, of course, on the height at which you fix the gooseneck.

Jacklines or not is a personal preference, not related to the gooseneck type.

How so?

And I believe you have very easy access to a sailmaker to confirm my statement regarding sail shape.

Amgine is referring to the amazing Carol Hasse, whose shop is just upstairs from mine. And who is a big proponent of Cunninghams. But I will check with her, in case I have this one wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss