A couple of notes on reefing. First some terminology:
The forward reef cringle/grommet is called the reef tack. It needs to be
pulled down and forward when you reef. The hook at the gooseneck does this.
What's important here is that the cringle is pulled forward enough so there
is no tension on the first sail slide/slug when the sail fills with wind.
(Instead of a hook, some boats have a line which runs thru the reef tack to
pull it down and forward)
The aft reef grommet/cringle is called the reef clew. It needs to be pulled
down and aft onto the boom to keep the foot of the reefed sail taut. Most
people run a line from an eystrap on one side of the boom, up though the aft
reef clew, down and slightly aft to a cheek block and then forward to an
easily reached horn or v-cleat. The cheek block on the boom should be aft of
the reef clew so the line pulls both aft and down.
The three reefing lines through your sail are called reef points. You should
tie them around the extra sail, but not around the boom on a loose-footed
sail.
Here's a sequence for reefing:
1. Turn into the wind and loosen the lines which hold the boom down -
mainsheet, vang.
2. Lift the aft end of the boom with a topping lift if you have one.
3. Loosen the main halyard to a pre-determined mark and set the hook in the
front reef tack (or tighten the front reef line if you're using a line
instead of a hook.) Re-tighten the halyard and secure it.
4. Tighten the aft reef clew line so the foot of reefed section is pulled
down and back to the boom tightly.
5. Roll up the extra sail area at the bottom and tie it off with the three
reef point lines. Don't tie the lines around the boom, just around the sail
cloth. It's not even necessary to do this, unless you don't like having the
sail flapping around. The sail will perform just fine even if you don't tidy
up.
6. Drop the topping lift.
One word of caution: Make sure you have set the front reef tack before you
set the back one. Doing it in the reverse order could rip out the bottom
sail slide/slug.
To shake out the reef,
1. Untie the three reef point lines
2. ease all control lines: mainsheet, vang, outhaul
3. Keep the topping lift holding up the boom.
4. Release the line on the aft reef clew.
5 Ease the main halyard and release the front hook from the forward reef
tack cringle.
6. Tighten the main halyard
7. Trim the outhaul
8. Drop the topping lift
9 trim the vang
sail off.
Hope this helps. There's a far more detailed explanation of this at
http://www.sailmaker.com/articles/reefing.htm
if you want to read it.
Regards,
Judy B