Ramona said..
It pays to have your boat set up correctly with all lines to the cockpit.
With the boat close hauled or close reaching and being steered with the windvane or my butt I ease out the mainsheet, tighten the topping lift. Let the main halyard down to a preset mark on the halyard [whipping]. Haul in the tack reefing line then the clew reefing line. Haul the mainsheet back in and adjust the halyard tension or the tack reefing line to set the correct luff tension. The yachts heading falls away slightly while the main is eased but returns when the main is hauled back in. If your in a confined space like Sydney harbour try to reef on a starboard tack.
It takes about half the time to do as this took to type. Second and third reefs are just the same.
I decided to set up mine quite differently.
ie I've put all halyard winches on the mast and reef lines go to winch on boom near the gooseneck obliging me to reef at the mast. The positives are: Less friction with halyard and aft reef lines., clear deck (I have no lines going aft and no turning blocks at base of mast.) and I can do it by myself. I figure that I have to jump up to tie gussets on excess reefed sail anyway.
Ramona's setup may well end up being my next step but I've always liked having winches on the mast and a clear cabintop.
