Sailing Basics - How to Reef Your Mainsail the Right Way

Visit http://www.skippertips.com for more sailing basics and cruising tips like these. Imagine sailing down a narrow channel in 25 knots of wind under reefed mainsail alone. All of a sudden--Pop! Snap! You watch helplessly from the helm as your mainsail slugs snap off of the boltrope like popcorn in a hot skillet. And then to top it off, your mainsail rips from luff to leech! What now, skipper? Captain John with 25+ years of experience shows you the no-nonsense cruising skills you need for safer sailing worldwide. Visit his website at https://www.skippertips.com and sign up for his highly popular Sailing Tip of the Week. Discover how you can gain instant access to hundreds of sailing articles, videos, FREE e-Books and much more!

Sailing Basics - How to Reef Your Mainsail the Right Way sentiment_very_dissatisfied 14

Sailing 8 years ago 27,824 views

Visit http://www.skippertips.com for more sailing basics and cruising tips like these. Imagine sailing down a narrow channel in 25 knots of wind under reefed mainsail alone. All of a sudden--Pop! Snap! You watch helplessly from the helm as your mainsail slugs snap off of the boltrope like popcorn in a hot skillet. And then to top it off, your mainsail rips from luff to leech! What now, skipper? Captain John with 25+ years of experience shows you the no-nonsense cruising skills you need for safer sailing worldwide. Visit his website at https://www.skippertips.com and sign up for his highly popular Sailing Tip of the Week. Discover how you can gain instant access to hundreds of sailing articles, videos, FREE e-Books and much more!

Show More

Advertising
LuxoGear Emergency Whistles with Lanyard

LuxoGear Emergency Whistles with Lanyard

Shop now »
NOCO Genius GEN5X2, 2-Bank, 10A (5A/Bank) Smart Marine Battery Chargers

NOCO Genius GEN5X2, 2-Bank, 10A (5A/Bank) Smart Marine Battery Charger

Shop now »
ADVERTISING
LuxoGear Emergency Whistles with Lanyard

LuxoGear Emergency Whistles with Lanyard

Shop now »
NOCO Genius GEN5X2, 2-Bank, 10A (5A/Bank) Smart Marine Battery Chargers

NOCO Genius GEN5X2, 2-Bank, 10A (5A/Bank) Smart Marine Battery Charger

Shop now »
RHINO USA Boat Trailer Transom Straps (2PK)

RHINO USA Boat Trailer Transom Straps (2PK)

Shop now »
LUCKY Kayak Portable Fish Depth Finder

LUCKY Kayak Portable Fish Depth Finder

Shop now »
Seaview 180 V3 Full Face Snorkel Mask

Seaview 180 V3 Full Face Snorkel Mask

Shop now »

Most popular comments
for Sailing Basics - How to Reef Your Mainsail the Right Way

Gerald Chopik
Gerald Chopik - 7 years ago
Newbee sailor and that all makes sense to me. THANKS!
Captain John's Skipper Tips
Captain John's Skipper Tips - 7 years ago
Glad it helped, Gerald!
sweetbrandigirl
sweetbrandigirl - 7 years ago
Well done Sir
bruce sinclair
bruce sinclair - 8 years ago
Hello cap John

Thanks for the tip. But I do it a little bit different.
Say 'I'm reefing from full main to first reef
1 I loosen the vang
2 I tighten the 2nd reefing line this lifts the boom making it easier to reef the 1st reefing point but keeps tension in the leach of the sail. lock off 2nd reefing line
3 I lower halyard and similar tighten up 1st reef until reef is fully tighten,
4 Once the sail is in the correct position all corners fixed I realise the 2nd reef and retension the vang

This way the sail is under control the leach never is flapping uncontrollably

bruce
Captain John's Skipper Tips
Captain John's Skipper Tips - 8 years ago
Great idea, Bruce! Indeed, lifting the end of the boom up by tensioning the 2nd clew reef cringle will make reefing the first clew cringle a lot easier.
Kevin McC
Kevin McC - 8 years ago
I wish I had seen this two weeks ago. I was entertaining family on my 10M and I had not applied sail ties in ALL my reef grommets and as a result someone cranked too hard on the halyard resulting in a slight tear at the reef patch. Another words don't crank the winch to tight when raising the halyard.
Captain John's Skipper Tips
Captain John's Skipper Tips - 8 years ago
Keep the reef ties really slack. You should be able to slide a full hand between the ties and the sail and still have some wiggle room with the sail hoisted and beating to windward. Read my reply to Islander Sailboat below.
Islander Sailboat
Islander Sailboat - 8 years ago
The part that I've never done in real life is bunching up the loose sail at the bottom. Can you confirm that you should only tie reefs around the sail, and not around the boom? I sort of struggle with the concept of "loose-footed"

e.g. "...On Nikki, I use dedicated buntlines: small-diameter lengths of line that pass through a horizontal series of cringles in the sail, between the reefed tack and the reefed clew, and tied with reef knots. Their only purpose is to store the “bunt” — that excess sailcloth that hangs down from the finished reef — to increase visibility from the helm and reduce flopping. For mainsails without buntlines, the sail can be gathered and secured with sail ties rove through the appropriate reef points, or through cringles in the sail, which serve the same purpose. Either way, buntlines or sail ties should never be pulled tight before tying, because they will strain and eventually tear the sail at the cringles. Your reefed sail should be left loose-footed, although the buntlines or ties can be knotted under the boom or only around the bunt itself, which I prefer. When I race Nikki, I leave the bunt untied because it doesn’t get in the way and it reduces the time to take another reef in or shake it out..." http://www.cruisingworld.com/seamanship-101-reefing-main?image=3
Islander Sailboat
Islander Sailboat - 8 years ago
Thanks, it's starting to make sense, guess I just have to try now :)
Captain John's Skipper Tips
Captain John's Skipper Tips - 8 years ago
Loose-footed means that the foot of the mainsail between the tack and clew does not attach to the boom. In other words, that side of the sail is free except at the tack and clew. If you have a loose-footed main, tie off the excess sailcloth (called "bunt"), directly beneath the sail. If not, you will need to secure the reef ties beneath the boom. Leave an inch or two of slack in each reef tie. An easy test is to slide one hand between the reef tie and sail. If you can do this without strain, then you have things about right. Of course, you do not have to secure the bunt at all. It does neaten up things, as pointed out in the excerpt. Wait until you can pull the boom near the centerline. You do not want to be tying off the bunt with the boom over the water.
Coast Life
Coast Life - 8 years ago
What did you do wrong that caused the tear? So we know what not to do :)
Captain John's Skipper Tips
Captain John's Skipper Tips - 8 years ago
Not enough luff tension relative to leech tension. Just hoisting the mainsail isn't good enough. That luff needs a lot of tension. Watch the part of the video where I show you how to grind on the winch until you just begin to see a faint vertical crease build along the luff. At that point, ease off on the halyard just a bit until the crease disappears.
msnpassjan2004
msnpassjan2004 - 8 years ago
I hear this on sailing vids all the time, always wondered what it is. Thanks Captain John !
Captain John's Skipper Tips
Captain John's Skipper Tips - 8 years ago
You bet.
Bob Linton
Bob Linton - 8 years ago
Keep them coming Captain John! Thank you.

Similar videos
for Sailing Basics - How to Reef Your Mainsail the Right Way

Surf

[YTP] IT'S ALL RIGHT HERE AT YOUR FINGERTITS

98,148 likes 4,479,091 views 10 years ago

Hey well, a new video finally! But don't go building bombs now, okay? Original source here:...

Surf

Mentawai Islands Surf April 9th-16th 2013...

2,721 likes 1,287,239 views 11 years ago

Epic Week in the Southern Mentawai Islands! Featuring Adriano De Souza, Miguel Pupo, Jean Da Silva, Sergio, Michael...

Surf

How to Surf: Surfing Basics in Huntington Beach

2,944 likes 779,977 views 14 years ago

http://www.theoceanfrontca.com shows how to surf for beginners. This "surfing 101" video walks you through surfing...

Boat

How To Trim Your Boat - Basics Of Boat Trim |...

2,112 likes 595,024 views 10 years ago

This video shows you the basics of boat trim. It walks you through how to use the power trim on your outboard or...

Kayak

Kayak Fishing Basics: Kayak Stability

1,428 likes 510,012 views 10 years ago

Jeff Little explains how to become accustomed to the stability of your kayak so that you can learn how to stay...

Kayak

Kayak Fishing Basics: How to Choose a Kayak

1,107 likes 483,658 views 10 years ago

Jeff Little and Callie Shumway explain key considerations how to choose the best kayak for fishing. Whether you are...

Related videos
to Sailing Basics - How to Reef Your Mainsail the Right Way

Sailing

Trimming your sails Part 1 the basics

953 likes 439,172 views 11 years ago

http://www.onthehelm.com An introduction into sail trimming. Part one gives the basics. Get some great tips, learn...

Sailing

Sailing Boat Basics

347 likes 332,851 views 16 years ago

Check out Bas Rutten's Liver Shot on MMA Surge: http://bit.ly/MMASurgeEp1 Learning how to sail isn't hard if you're...

Sailing

Sailing Lessons: The basics (part 1)

633 likes 290,110 views 14 years ago

Matt Cross, a University of Kansas student and member of the sailing club, gives a 101 talk on sailing.

Sailing

'Start Sailing' - A Complete Guide To The Basics

689 likes 238,475 views 12 years ago

Chapter Markers: What You Will Need? 00:07 - 00:38 Parts Of A Boat 00:40 - 00:58 How To Rig 00:59 - 05:16 Points Of...

Sailing

Trimming your sails Part 3 the mainsail

396 likes 141,691 views 11 years ago

http://www.onthehelm.com In part 3 of this series we learn how to trim the mainsail and keep in the groove. If you...

Sailing

Basics of Catamaran Sailing

204 likes 131,211 views 10 years ago

About Sailing Basics - How to Reef Your Mainsail the Right Way

The "Sailing Basics - How to Reef Your Mainsail the Right Way" video is part of the Sealing, tipps, boating category, which contains similar videos like this one.

Subscribe hot viral Aquatic videos!