When to reef
- If you're wondering whether to reef, reef. It's easy to shake a reef out if the wind drops, and much harder to put one in once it's blowing.
- Signs you're overpowered: heeling too far, heavy weather helm, the boat rounding up into the wind in gusts, and the crew struggling to hold on.
- Before a passage or nightfall, if the forecast suggests the wind will build. See heavy weather preparation.
Slab reefing the mainsail
Most cruising mainsails have slab (or jiffy) reefing: rows of reef points and a pair of cringles at the luff and leech for each reef. Details vary by boat, but the sequence is usually:
- Depower the main: ease the mainsheet and kicker (vang) so the sail spills wind. Some boats are easier to reef close-hauled with the headsail drawing.
- Support the boom with the topping lift if your boat has one, so it doesn't drop when you lower the sail.
- Lower the halyard to the reef mark.
- Secure the tack: hook the luff cringle onto the reefing hook, or pull it down with the tack reefing line.
- Re-tension the halyard until the luff is tight.
- Pull in the clew reefing line to bring the leech cringle down to the boom and tension the new foot of the sail.
- Ease the topping lift, then retrim the mainsheet and kicker.
- Tidy the loose sail with the reef points, tied round the bunched-up sail only, never round the boom.
Reefing a roller furling headsail
- Ease the headsail sheet a little so the sail can roll.
- Pull in the furling line, keeping some tension on the sheet so the sail rolls tightly.
- Stop at the amount you want, cleat the furling line securely, then retrim the sheet, moving the car forward if your boat has adjustable cars.
Keeping her balanced
The aim is a boat that sails upright with a light helm. Too much mainsail gives weather helm, so the boat keeps trying to turn into the wind; too little can make her sluggish or bear away. Many yachts reef the main first, then furl the headsail to match, but every boat is different, so learn what yours likes.