page_title: Sail components
section_title: Reefing points
hierarchical_section_title: Sail components / Fittings / Reefing points
context_page_description: Sail components include the features that define a sail's shape and function, plus its constituent parts from which it is manufactured. A sail may be classified in a variety of ways, including by its orientation to the vessel and its shape. Sails are typically constructed out of flexible material that is shaped by various means, while in use, to offer an appropriate airfoil, according to the strength and apparent direction of the wind. A variety of features and fittings allow the sail to be attached to lines and spars.
  Whereas conventional sails form an airfoil with one layer of fabric, wingsails comprise a structure that has material on both sides to form an airfoil—much like a wing placed vertically on the vessel—and are beyond the scope of this article.
context_section_description: Different categories of sails are reefed (reduced in size) in different manners and therefore have different fixtures that achieve shortening of sail. Traditional canvas square and gaff-rigged sails have one or more rows of reefing lines that pass through the sail, which reach around the sail that has been gathered in to reduce its size and secure the remaining unreefed sail to the spar (square rig) or boom (gaff rig). Gaff-rigged sails require an extra set of lines to secure the part of the leech that becomes the new clew. These are called reef pendents that drop through a comb on the boom, where they are secured, as needed.
  Mainsails on Bermuda rigs typically have paired grommets that secure the luff and leech to the boom, as the sail is lowered to reduce its area. These become the new tack and clew. A reefing line typically runs through the reef point on the luff to quickly secure the new clew. The grommet that becomes the new tack is typically hooked onto the boom. There may be grommets along the line between the new tack and clew that allow ties to pass through around the boom.
caption: Gaff sail, showing reefing points (20) and other features.
   1. Luff 2. Foot 3. Leech 4. Head 
  5. Throat 6. Tack 7. Clew 8. Peak 
  9. Throat cringle 10. Reefing cringle 
  11. Tack cringle 12. Clew cringle 
  13. Reefing cringle 14. Peak cringle 
  15. Reinforcing tape 16. Bolt rope 
  17. Batten pocket 18. Panels 
  19. Reef line 20. Reefing point 
  21. Reefing line