reef-tackles

In case there is steam power at hand, all three reef-tackles may be hauled simultaneously, easing sheet and tack sufficiently to let the wind out of the sail without shaking.

Scientific American Supplement, No. 829, November 21, 1891 Various

As all the reef-tackles lead to the slings of the yard, there is no impediment in swinging the yard when the reef-tackles are taut and belayed.

Scientific American Supplement, No. 829, November 21, 1891 Various

—Rigging all let go, and washing about decks; topsail yards down upon the caps, and sails flapping and beating against the masts; and starboard watch hauling out the reef-tackles of the main topsail.

Chapter XXXV. A Double Reef-Top-Sail Breeze-Scurvy-A Friend in Need-Preparing for Port-The Gulf Stream 1909

We had got the light sails furled, the courses hauled up, and the topsail reef-tackles hauled out, and were just mounting the fore-rigging, when the storm struck us.

Chapter V. Cape Horn-A Visit 1909

Here again it was down yard, haul out reef-tackles, and lay out upon the yard for reefing.

Chapter XXV. Rumors of War-A Spouter-Slipping for a South-Easter-A Gale 1909

We clewed down, and hauled out the reef-tackles again, and close-reefed the fore-topsail, and furled the main, and hove her to on the starboard tack.

Chapter V. Cape Horn-A Visit 1909

Down came the topsail yards, the reef-tackles were manned and hauled out, and we climbed up to windward, and sprang into the weather rigging.

Chapter XXXI. Bad Prospects-First Touch of Cape Horn-Icebergs-Temperance Ships-Lying-Up-Ice-Difficulty on Board-Change of Course-Straits of Magellan 1909

By hauling the reef-tackles chock-a-block, we took the strain from the other earings, and passing the close-reef earing, and knotting the points carefully, we succeeded in setting the sail, close-reefed.

Chapter XXV. Rumors of War-A Spouter-Slipping for a South-Easter-A Gale 1909

Then to the crew, all of whom were by this time on deck, "Bowse down yer reef-tackles and double-reef the taups'ls, then stow the mains'l."

The Pirate Island A Story of the South Pacific Harry Collingwood 1886

The fellows, by this time quite sober, and fully alive to the perils of their situation, needed no second bidding, but sprang about the deck with all the eager, impetuous haste of men fighting for their lives; and in less time than I could have believed possible they had bowsed out the reef-tackles and were in the fore rigging, on their way aloft to complete the operation of reefing the fore-topsail.

The Castaways Harry Collingwood 1886