What is jiffy reefing and why would someone get it?
When the wind gets up and a smaller sail would feel more comfortable or safer a jiffy reefing system allows you to quickly reduce the size of the mainsail.. If you sail in an area where there are unpredictable winds or use the boat as an offshore tender, jiffy reefing is a recommended option. How jiffy reefing works is two reefing lines run from each end of the boom up through an eyelet set in special reinforced sections of the mainsail a given distance up the sail and back down to the boom. The main halyard is partially loosened . Simultaneously the for’d reefing line taken up until the eyelet is lowered down to the boom. Then it’s made fast to one of two designated cleats installed on the boom.. The main halyard is tightened and recleated and then the aft reefing line tightened and cleated. A section of the mainsail has been lowered and the boat is slowed down and easier to handle. There is a demostration of this in the DVD/video ‘Whitehall Sailing’ available from us and also supplie
