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There has been some speculation from a few individuals (who shall remain nameless) that the reason adults don't reef more often is that they, too, suffer from the Mitey Mite syndrome. Assuming that this is the case, we now offer the following for closet non-reefers of all ages: 

## EverythingYou AlwaysWantedto Know AboutReefing(But WereAfraidto Ask) 

On boats without topping lifts (most Beetles fall into this category), reefing is done with the sail down. Before starting to tie in a reef, make sure the sail is bent onto the spars ready for normal, un-reefed sailing (everything attached, outhauls tight). Then follow these three steps: 

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1. Inhaul  - Tie the reefing grommet in the luff down to the tack grommet or gooseneck fitting with a short piece of line using a reef knot. 

2. Outhaul  - Tie the reefing grommet in the leech to the boom in two directions: first out to the end of the boom. Be sure to pull it out tightly. Second, down to the boom directly under the reefing grommet. 

3. Reef Points  - Roll up the fold of sail between the boom and the reef points and tie the reefing lines by passing them between the foot of the sail and the boom (do NOT pass the reef lines around the boom). Be sure to use reef knots. 

## Keysto Success 

Be sure to do the three steps in order . 

Make sure the leech reefing grommet is pulled out tight. (If you wind up with strain wrinkles coming from the reef pints when the sail is up, the leech grommet wasn't hauled out tight enough.) There isn't one right way to do this, but here is one method that does the job well and still unties easily afterwards. 

Thread one end of piece of 6-8 foot line though the leech reefing grommet so that half the line is sticking out on each side of the sail. 

 Thread the ends of the line through the hole in the end of the boom (or the outhaul fitting or clew grommet) in opposite directions. 

 Tighten out the leech reefing grommet by pulling on both ends of the line at the same time. 

 Pass the ends of the line back through the leech grommet in opposite directions and then down around the boom. Secure with a reef knot. 

When furling the bottom of the sail pull all of the excess sailcloth to one side of the boom and roll it up firmly. Tie the middle reef points first and work out in both directions tying the next adjacent point. (This isn't vital, but it does produce a smoother job.) 

