Shaking out the reef

    • Bring the boat to close-hauled heading but leave the mainsail in close-reach position by easing out the mainsheet to depower it.
    • Ease out the boom vang
    • Ease out the mainsheet but keep the boom inside the boat's lines for easy reach (do not reach outside the lifelines to work on the boom, especially when you are on the cabin top)
    • Tighten the topping lift
    • Untie the reef points (and the clew sail tie if you used one).
    • Ease out the reefing line. Make sure it will be slack as you raise the main to full height.
    • Ease the halyard down slightly to take the cringle off the horn (if the reefing system is set up that way). 
    • Hoist the mainsail all the way up and secure the halyard
    • Ease out the topping lift
    • Tighten the boom vang
    • Trim the mainsheet
    • If the wind is getting lighter, unfurl the genoa to full size.