I hadn't bothered to drop anchor or reef the mainsail.

To reef the mainsail we were forced to run off before the gale under the single reefed jib.

Without more ado, Farrar, calling on me to give him a hand, eased down the halliards and began to close reef the mainsail.

At the moment of a certain difficult manoeuvre, four men had to climb to the crossbars of the fore-mast in order to reef the mainsail.

We double reefed the mainsail reefed the foresail and hauled the flying jib down.

At half-past one he stowed the flying-jib, reefed the mainsail, and took the bonnet off the jib.

Night was coming on: we close- reefed the mainsail, and took a reef in the foresail, and continued our course close-hauled.

"Brail up the foresail, and double reef the mainsail."

"If the ladies wish me to reef the mainsail, I will do so," said Leopold.