Main Reefing
I haven't reefed since last Spring, but I will try to explain what I do. I will assume that you have a factory reefing setup from Hunter/JY. Check out your mast, you will find 2 cleats parallel to each other, one port and one starboard...these are the two cleats to use. The third cleat on the mast is for cleating the main to. Check out the aft end of the boom. You will find an eye-strap (port side) and a cheek block (starboard side) approximately parallel to one another. There should be a cleat on the side with the cheek block and foreward of the cheek block. You should have two 1/8 inch or so reefing lines (possibly green...assuming that this is a factory reefing setup from Hunter/JY). Now the rigging. Lower the main to the predetermined mark on the halyard...how do you know where the predetermined mark should be...do this once then put the mark on the halyard and orient it to something on the mast...later! Just lower the main a bit for now, 2 feet or so. If you reef is too high off the boom, lower the main some more then tighten the reef. On the mast, cleat one end of a line to the cleat, run it through the reefing hole in the front of the sail and run it down to the other cleat. Tighten it off close to the boom. At the rear of the main, tie the other line off to the eye-strap. Run it through the reefing hole in the rear of the main and through the cheek block. Cleat it off in the cleat forward of the cheek block. Also run this off close to the boom. Properly tension the main by raising the sail by pulling on the halyard. Tie off the baggy portion of the main by wrapping a line through the other reefing holes, but pass them OVER the boom so the sail is collected but not wrapped to the boom. I really don't know if this is important for sail performance, but everything that I have read about reefing suggest this. From what I understand this step is purely for housekeekping and is optional. Now that your sail is reefed, make a mark on your halyard as you "predetermined reference mark". Use a marker, a knot or sew some thread through the halyard and refernce it to something on the mast...cleat, another marker line drawn on the mast, anything you want, just remember it. Your are now reefed. Reverse to take the reef out. TAKE ALL LINES OUT AND RECHECK!!! It you attempt to raise the main all the way up, with any of the lines in you risk ripping out the grommets! A very expensive mistake. Good Luck! Try it in your driveway several times to get it right. I learned at a boat landing with 20 knot winds. Not very wise!!!Also, you need to make your "predetermined mark", so just do it before you need it!!! This may or may not be the only way...I don't know. Anyone else have any suggestions or advise?
