Donglai, Reefing is easy. Describing how to reef is hard.
There are two cringles, or grommets, in the sail. One is at the front, or luff, and one is at the rear, or leach. The cringles are maybe two feet or so above the boom when the sail is raised normally to the full height. When reefed, the two cringles are lowered down to the boom and secured, thus serving as a new clew and a new tack. The bottom portion of the sail is not in use, thus the sail area has been reduced. To get the cringles down, you first heave to and then ease the main halyard enough so that the cringles will drop to the boom. Secure the main halyard so that it does not fly away. What you do next is a matter of choosing from one of the following: First, an aft reefing line may be secured to a strap on the port side of the boom, near the aft end. This line goes up the sail, through the aft cringle, back down the starboard side of the main, through a block on the boom, and forward to a clam cleat on the boom. Pull on the line so that the cringle snugs up to the boom, then cleat the line. A second line is secured to a strap on the mast that is maybe a foot above the base. This line runs up one side of the main, through the front cringle, down the other side of the main, and to a cam cleat mounted on the mast. I think I have mine set up so that the line is fastened to the strap on the port side, and cleat on the starboard side. Again, pull the line so that the cringle is snugged up to the boom, and cleat the line. After the reefing lines are secured, tighten up on the main halyard again. The lowest part of the sail can be rolled up if you wish to appear nautical. This is the easiest method of reefing to do, as the straps, cleats and block should be there. You may just need two lengths of line that will fit the cleats. Second, use an aft reefing line as above. Have a hook on the gooseneck that the forward cringle is hooked to. Doug with “Seas the Day” posted a link to a picture with this arrangement earlier this year. Again, as above, hoist the main halyard and roll up the reef. Here you need a length of line and a hook. I plan to switch to this method when I remember to buy a hook. The rear line can be left attached if the sail and boom are removed from the boat, but the front line in the first method must be redone each time the boom is installed and removed. Third, use one line pull both cringles down at the same time. This is called jiffy reefing. This line needs to run along the boom to duplicate the two lines used in the first method. Again, hoist the main and roll the reef. You will need one longer length of line and some additional hardware like blocks or eyes to allow the line to run through both cringles. I could see doing this on a larger boat but I think this is the least desirable method for a 15. Again, the front portion of the line must be redone each time the boom goes on and off the boat. It may sound complicated but this is something you can practice with the boat on the trailer in the driveway, assuming you have little or no wind. You obviously want to have the line rigged and ready to go before you have to reef. It really takes only a few seconds to reef when you need to. As far as removing decals, I have used a special spray on product my wife bought for that purpose. I have also used my favorite miracle cleaner and degreaser, WD-40. The WD-40 works as well. steve Steve R. M-15 #119 Lexington, KY
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