Reefing A Sail

To Reef a sail means to shorten it.
Reefing a sail. Whether you have a bolt rope main or a slide main something is likely to get broken if you dont have the luff tension on first. As small boats get less stable as you move forward in the boat having a reefing line tied off on the boom through the front eye for the reef and to an eye or block on the sailthen back along the boom to a cleat. Reefing is done by lowering the mainsail establishing a new tack and clew using control lines and hoisting the mainsail again with the bottom part no longer exposed to the wind.
Single or Double refers to how many reef lines are required to reef the sail properly. Likewise when you yank the clew reef line upward the foot of the sail becomes tighter and flatter while the leech loosens and develops more twist. Let the outhaul and the vang completely off and then drop the main halyard down to the desired reef position.
Reefing points are 1 2 or 3 horizontal rows of cringles reinforced grommets and reefing lines attached ties on the mainsail. Assume a close-hauled or close reaching course. What does reefing in a sail expression mean.
A sailboat is powered by the wind and when. A reefed sail reduces heeling of the boat and makes the boat easier to manage. Pull slack out of the reef line so it wont tangle.
Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. The area of the mainsail is reduced by a technique called reefing. Reefing in a sail - Idioms by The Free Dictionary httpsidioms.
It also reduces the risk of capsizing in a gust. Definition of reefing in a sail in the Idioms Dictionary. When reefing a sail there are two places that need tension.