To Reef Without Lowering Sail
It sometimes happens that on account of the proximity of a lee shore, and the consequent danger of drifting in that direction, or for some other equally good reason, it is inadvisable to lower sail and lose headway. Under such circumstances the main sheet must be trimmed flat, keeping the boat as close as possible to the wind, the helm must be put up hard a-lee, and jib-sheet trimmed to windward ([Fig. 138]).
Fig. 138.—Squirming; jib on port side, boom close-hauled on starboard side.
When this is done the wind will hit the jib, "paying her head off," or pushing her bow to leeward, and this tendency is counteracted by the helm and mainsail, bringing the bow up into the wind. This keeps the boat squirming. Lower the mainsail until the row of reef points is just on a line with the boom, keeping to the windward of the sail. Tie the first point—that is, the one on the luff rope—then the one on the leach, being careful to stretch out the foot of the sail. Then tie the remaining points, always making a square or reefing knot. Tie them to the jack-stay on the boom or around the boom.
The Reef or Square Knot
is most frequently used, as its name implies, in reefing sails. First make a plain overhand knot, as in [Fig. 139]. Then repeat the operation by taking the end and passing it over and under the loop, drawing the parts tight, as shown in [Fig. 140]. Care should be observed in crossing the ends so that they will always lay fairly alongside the main parts. Otherwise the knot will prove a granny and be comparatively worthless.
