mainsail

reef in the sail(s)

To reduce the area of one or more sails while they are being used by winding them over a roller or tying them up at particular points. There's too much wind to be at full sail—it's dragging the whole boat to one side. I'll keep a steady course while you go and reef in the mainsail. We should be fine if we just reef in the jib, I think. The captain ordered us to reef in the sails before the storm hit.
See also: reef

reef the sail(s)

To reduce the area of one or more sails while they are being used by winding them over a roller or tying them up at particular points. Often specified as "the mainsail," "the jib," etc. There's too much wind to be at full sail—it's dragging the whole boat to one side. I'll keep a steady course while you go and reef the mainsail. We should be fine if we just reef the jib, I think. The captain ordered us to reef the sails in before the storm hit.
See also: reef
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • reef
  • reef in the sail(s)
  • reef the sail(s)
  • reef a sail in
  • filling
  • back and fill
  • back and fill, to
  • billow out
  • breeze up
  • in stays
References in periodicals archive
"The potential to continue to operate The Suites at Mainsail Village as an extended stay hotel or to convert it to a multi family rental property fueled strong interest from both hotel and multifamily investors," said Richard Swartz, managing director and principal of Sonnenblick-Goldman.
The Mainsail report cited another study which concluded that "corporations spend millions on PR and yet the press sections of their websites often fail to meet journalists' most basic information needs."
Mainsail's IMAP solution gives service providers the ability to provision TDM, ATM and IP data and voice services directly from optical networks, reducing the number of network elements.
Greenhalgh, who is also the mainsail trimmer, added, 'It's a very competitive fleet and every little mistake costs you a place or two - it is one of the most competitive fleets we have seen, but it was always going to be the case at a world championships as there are some really solid teams here.'
"It was a tricky day -- a couple of times we were leading races and the situation changed so we had to adapt quickly," said Greenhalgh, Oman Air's mainsail trimmer.
Mainsail Atlantic 4.35 Newcastle SP forecast 10-11 Has suffered four defeats in novice company, including when sent off at odds-on for last one in June.
Despite only hoisting their brand new mainsail for the first time in the pre-start, freshly refurbished super-maxi Black Jack proved she was a potent threat to Wild Oats Xi's line honours domination of Australian offshore racing.
23 March 2017 - US-based enterprise software provider Daxko, a portfolio company of GI Partners, has acquired US-based SaaS provider Zen Planner, a portfolio company of Mainsail Partners, to increase services to the membership health and wellness market, the company said.
"The conditions were superb and the racing frenzied and dynamic with starting tactics key to the success around the course," said Oman Air mainsail trimmer and tactician Pete Greenhalgh.
Gavin Reid, 28, and his Mission Performance team found the vessel with a jammed propeller, damaged mainsail and a sailor stuck at the top of the mast.
Sarah Young, 40, a company owner from London, was washed into the sea by a wave as she tended the mainsail aboard the IchorCoal yacht, and was swept away in strong winds.
Steelwedge is a portfolio company of mainsail partners and camden partners.
The government has enlisted the world's fastest yacht, Esimit Europa to promote the forthcoming EU presidency by attending a launch event and flying the presidency's emblem on its mainsail.
11 August 2011 - US healthcare group Kindred Healthcare Inc (NYSE:KND) said Thursday it had struck a deal to acquire Professional HealthCare LLC, controlled by private equity firm Mainsail Partners, for USD51m (EUR35.9m) in cash.