I agree, reefing from top downSo I believe the roller reefing on the boom of that time was rolling on the outside of the boom - like a window shade. It would have to be a pretty flat sail which would be consistent with mainsails of that time. There was also the Hood in boom reefing system which rolled the main inside the boom if my memory serves me - and it has been asleep on the job lately. The Hood system did pretty well on larger boats presumably because it was a bit pricy to put on a smaller boat. As we say in NY, "Not for nutin'" but I'd rather reef from top down than from leach forward. But that's a subject for discussion.