Ep 27: Learn to Sail: Part 15: Reefing the Main

Finally an example of four line reefing like the system that came on the boat we purchased. Turns out we were using it correctly but I was concerned the leech reefing line should go through the sail with the bitter end tied to the boom below that point (our boat main is loose footed). We currently have it setup as an outhaul like you show. Thanks for the clarification, appreciate your videos as we learn something from each and every one.

I enjoy your videos very much. If I may, I’d like to offer some constructive criticism. Though teaching beginner level procedures and techniques, the quantity and delivery speed of the sailing jargon leaves a beginner like me behind. When you talk of, and point to something out of frame, I have to mentally search for the meaning of the term that you are using. They’re not second nature yet. A video edit to B roll video that highlights the item, touching it, or simply speaking the explanation of the term would be helpful. The sheer number of sailing-specific terms and the speed at which they are delivered is overwhelming and leaves me behind. Of course, if your intended audience is not beginners, then maybe it’s completely appropriate. Regardless, thanks for the videos and reading this student’s perspective. 👍🏻

Hi nice to see you

Thanks for a very good illustrative instruction video.
I like you to give clear commands.
Have you been in the armed forces?
I have been officer in the Danish Air Force and Army ;-)

Nice video. Thank you.

Good tips!

Thanks for all the excellent details in this reefing process, especially with directions for the crew!

Great episode. Subscribed.

To Marco and assisting crew member: Sincere thanks for best explanation and great photography in demonstrating how to reef the main.I subscribed and look forward to your other clips.Good sailing/Rick/Seattle

Excellent presentation, simple, understandable, and professional.

Great pace and clear instructions. Will use this with my crew.

That’s the way I do it

Very informative and well presented. I have seen some articles on single line reefing. A single line runs through the luff cringle, down along the boom, up through the leech cringle, down the mast, and aft to the cockpit. It seems like this would be a simpler setup. Can you discuss the disadvantages of rigging this way?

On your system all lines go back to the cockpit except the topping lift. Why not lead the topping lift back to the cockpit; preferably alongside the vang? Then nobody has to go forward. I always use a black sail tie through the clew and round the mainsail bunt. It makes it easier to notice when I'm shaking out a reef and have forgotten to untie it! As a single hander in my seventies I have a laminated card with reefing bullet points in the cockpit which I read (occasionally!) before I put in the first reef.

Great video! Thanks for doing these.
Where was it shot? What port were you in? What time of year was it?
It looks really nice. The mist and the trees.
Where is your accent from?

Hi, what is the reason for closing the main hatch? Thank you.

I'm sailing my first non-furling mainsail boat as skipper in 1 month - I found this very helpful - vague memories of doing this when I was taught - this is as clear an explanation as I've seen. Thanks.

I sail solo...

Great video thank you

To eliminate having to go forward to adhust the topping lift, you could disconnect it from the boom end and install a small Harken (etc) two block purchase between the boom and lift. This allows you to adjust boom height from the cockpit.
I have a cleat mounted on boom end to tie it off.
The bitter end goes through the center loop in the cleat with a stopper knot so I wont lose the line.
I recently also added a small cam cleat to allow rapid adjustment on the fly.
Cheers

Excellent video. I am an ASA sailing instructor and refer my students to you. A couple of questions:
1) how do you luff the main for reefimg? Use the engine to point up head to wind, go hove to, or sail a close reach on jib only and sheet out the main? Seems like using a motor to go head to wind would be terribly uncomfortable and the jib would flog itself to shreds.

2) all our club boats have single line reefing. Do I tighten it to where the new clew is pulled to boom level before I harden the halyard? Im thinking I have to.

Thanks!

You indicate that the excess sail should be tied around the boom at the reef points which is counter to what Wallace Ross advises in his book Sail Power. I prefer your clew end tie off which reminds me of what I use to keep the clew of my Laser close to the boom.

Extremely informative and well executed. Thank you!

Thanks ! I took sailing lessons many moons ago, then finally bought my own boat recently. Trying to remember how to do all the things I used to know how to do, this was very helpful.

👍

Excellent video. Very clearly and simply explained. Thanks!

Thank you so much!

Your videos are the best tutorials. Thank you.

You should demonstrate slower. It looks like you're in a race and can't even explain it because you're working so fast.

i notice, you didn't mention tightening the topping lift, at the overview, this IS IMPORTANT, as when the halyard is lostened, the boom will just drop, without the topping lifts' support.

EXCELLENT tutorial! Thank you!!

Marco, your videos are really excellent. Thank you!

Great idea of using a sail tie to lash down the reef cringle against the boom. Thanks!

Thank you for sharing this awesome video 👍 👏 as new starter I'm going to have to binge on your previous videos.
I need to learn fast as i need to get a boat to practice on 🤞🤞🤞
👌👍🙏💯
✌❤☘ 🌬⛵

Do you keep the battons in the main sail when you stow it against the boom before covering the main ?

Better closeups at mast would be nice for the beginner to see what happens there.

One of the best video in the series so far. I can appreciate the complexity of the task and this is really helpful.
Going for an "Introduction to sailing" class next week, super excited. Thanks!

Lovely presentation. I like rhe slip knotted sailtie for the bunt. Just an added note.
Hardening the topping lift isn't needed as much if you have a boom vang strut to let off.
Same effect is achieved.

Excellent detail, great video on reefing, thanks.

thank you. A very good video and lesson and helpful!

Alebragle gargle bargle. Veru poor explanation. You might start with the concept - what is reefing and why it is needed.

Would you soften the lifting line before you garden the main sheet? Seems it would put a lot of stress on the lifting line when the sheet is pulling down on it?

Could you not tie it to the boom, but leave the foot loose - tie it around itself? That's what I was taught.

Excellent and simple! your visual and commentary easy to follow. Thank you

Excellent demo. Thank you.

If you are still monitoring this video, I am interested in how a stack pack affects reefing. If I have a stack pack, can I just let the loose part of the reefed sail lie in the stack pack rather than tying in the reef lines or sail tie? I will be sailing single handed offshore. I am looking for ways to simplify every task on the boat.

What is hardening ?
Hardening the sheet ?