| Every sailor at one time or another will need to reef | | | | however. |
| the mainsail. Done right, and assuming your boat is well | | | | 2. Next, uncleat the main halyard and ease the sail |
| rigged for reefing, the exercise will result in a more | | | | down until the reef point you want is at boom level. |
| balanced boat in windier conditions. | | | | Different boats have different number of reef points. |
| There are several reefing designs like slab reefing | | | | Some have only one and others have two or three. |
| (using a Jiffy Reef type system) and on the more | | | | The luff reef cringle is then pulled down by hooking it in |
| modern boats many are coming with in-mast or | | | | a ram's horn on the mast. Some boats have reef lines |
| in-boom mainsails. To reef these types of systems it is | | | | that can be pulled and cleated for the correct tension. |
| simply a matter of cranking in the mainsail inside the | | | | 3. The leech reef line should then be adjusted pulling |
| mast or boom until the desired amount is left. These | | | | the leech cringle tightly to the aft of the boom. The |
| are easy and efficient but typically the sail shape is not | | | | topping lift can now be released and the mainsail |
| as good particularly in in-mast systems since batons | | | | trimmed and the boom vang retightened. |
| are not an option. | | | | 4. You'll now have a "slab" of sail that you'll need to |
| The majority of cruisers though have the traditional | | | | tidy up by rolling and tying up with light line or sail ties |
| and time tested slab reefing. Below are a few simple | | | | run through the reefing cringles along the reefing line in |
| points in helping you with a successful reef of your | | | | the sail. Some sailors don't worry about the extra sail |
| mainsail. | | | | laying about but most tend to like getting it out of the |
| 1. The mainsail should first be eased by releasing the | | | | way to prevent damage. |
| mainsheet slowly. Make sure all the wind is spilled from | | | | It is always good seamanship to reef in port if you |
| the sail and the boom being supported by the topping | | | | know the wind is warranting it. It's easier and safer in a |
| lift. Also make sure the boom vang is eased and there | | | | controlled, docked position but with practice and if done |
| is not tension on it. Some boats have solid boom | | | | correctly, there's no need to fear putting a reef in out |
| vangs that hold up the boom instead of a topping lift, | | | | on the water. |