I thought this email exchange on reefing, might be of interest to others.

Question:  If you are sailing directly down wind with your jib and main up and the wind has been gradually increasing and you are having a ball surfing down the waves and it suddenly dawns on you that you should reef, how do you do it?  I assume you take down the jib while sailing down wind.  However, If you do a 180 and turn into the wind to take down the main the wind may heel the boat excessively or knock you down.   Just curious how you handle it, or maybe a 20mph wind isnt that big of a deal with just the main up and it isnt bad turning into it.

My answer: Reefing of course is always best before things get out of hand.  When this is not possible or I have been too lazy, I just head the boat up into the wind until it is on a reach.  The boat will steer itself with the tiller tied off on this point of sail with just one sail working, and can handle the big waves easily.  Then I let loose whichever sail I want to change or reef, and get the boat steering on its own.  With the boat steering itself, I can reef the main or drop and change the jib (no furler) as needed.  I do this single handing often, and is even easier with 2 people.  I of course wear a harness going forward in big weather.

Next question: What do I clip the harness to?  Bad but truthful answer: The mast base and then the lifelines as I do not have jacklines rigged yet.  Anyone rigged them on their boat?

Bob

When I reef my main, I always do it sitting on the forward hatch cover, with one foot on the aft lower shroud.  It is very secure.  I just clip my harness on to the lower bail for my boom vang.  

As for jacklines.  I have considered going from the mast to the bow roller and pulling it taught.  Then you could clip on at the mast and have something to put hold you as you go forward.  I do worry about the mast base, mine is held in place with 4 screws and is not even through bolted.  I know the mast exerts a large amount of pressure downward, but still...

The other option is to run a line from the stantion to the bow pulpit base on each side.  Then just clip in on the high side going forward. I have to figure this out this year.

Bob