The best way to deal with strong winds is to avoid sailing when winds are dangerously strong, as discussed earlier. However, if you do find yourself in high winds, you will need to reduce sail area to prevent the boat from being overpowered.

Reefing is the process of lowering the main partway and tying it down to reduce sail area in high winds. The process is similar to that of lowering the sail all the way, but it is usually more difficult and dangerous since it is done under high winds. Accordingly, it’s safer to reef too early at the first sign of dangerous winds, rather than too late when high wind and waves make controlling and moving around the boat more difficult.

The safest way to reef the mainsail is to sail on a close hauled starboard tack, and use the jib to power the boat while the mainsail is let out slightly to luff. The starboard tack establishes right of way, and the rigging used for reefing is usually on the starboard side of the boat. When the main is let out, it can be lowered slightly and tied off using reefing lines and reefing knots (how appropriate), described later in the section on knots.

The procedure for reducing the sail area of the jib is exactly the same as found in the section on raising and lowering the sails. Either the jib is brought down and a smaller jib is raised to replace it, or the jib is furled partway and the furling line cleated so that a smaller portion of the furling jib is exposed.

Reefing Procedure

The following describes the basic step-by-step process for reefing the mainsail:

1. Steer to a Close Reach and then ease off the mainsheet until the mainsail is luffing.
2. Tighten the topping lift if the boat is equipped with one.
3. Slowly ease the main halyard (use a winch for control). Stop when the reefing line is even with the boom, or a reefing cringle can be attached to a hook near the gooseneck, depending on the boat’s configuration.
4. Take in the slack in the (forward) reefing line.
5. Re-tension the main halyard.
6. Take in the slack on the aft reefing line, if there is one.
7. Tie off the reefing lines to tidy the loose sail at the boom.