SO 40 Mainsail Reefing

[tomina]

I have an SO 40 (2001)based in Turkey, with classic slab reefing and single line furling. I have found that hauling in the down haul crushes the turning block at the reef clew before tension is taken up on the leech outhaul.

There seems to be so much tension in this that I cannot get the sail to set properly. This is even worse on the second reef position. The compression distorts (and destroys) the jaws of the blocks sooner rather than later. Trying to pre-tension to halyard only causes different problems.

Can anybody suggest an easier or alternative approach, given that I do not wish to leave the cockpit to reef.

[appleseeds]

you have probably figured it out by now but you need to tighten the outhaul portion first before the tack jams at the gooseneck. It is a several step process. Let off the mainsheet and vang, lift the outboard end of the boom. Let the main halyard off but not so much that the tack can reach the gooseneck... to a mark on the halyard. Tighten the reef watching the outhaul meet the boom then slowly ease the halyard while continuing to tighten the reef until the tack reaches the gooseneck. Loosen the boom lift. Voila...you haven't left the cockpit.