"Marc" wrote in message
...
| Two ways.
| 1. make a slit with a hot knife 2" long just above the bolt rope and
| directly under the reef tie. Pass reef tie through slit.
|
| 2.Tie reef tie under boom LOOSELY so as not to stress the sail.
|
| Reef tie points are reinforced, but not enough to take the strain of
| a foot slug or bolt rope.

Yes.. I've utilized the loose tie under the boom. I found it lacking in
effect and prone to misjudgment by crew. I have never heard nor seen
employed the technique of cuts along the foot. I would imagine such a
procedure would adversely affect the sail... especially without
reinforcement.

At any rate.. I have never heard of a mainsail referred to as a "reefer
sail" either manufactured with your suggested cuts [ which I've never seen]
prior to or after the reintroduction of the free footed main by sail
manufacturers. Every vessel I've sailed on with a bolt rope along the foot
and equipped with reefing points used the tie around the boom method. Some
people believe the free footed design is a new concept... I doubt that's
accurate.

The free footed main allows for a cleaner, better shaped and easier method
of securing reefs.

CM