Numerous boats I’ve sailed on are rigged with sheaves for 3 lines only at the boom end - outhaul, and only two clew reef pennants. As mentioned, what do you do about the sometimes-needed third reef?

Whenever I have a ’slab reef’ in for any length of time, I secure a strong sacrificial strop tight around the boom and through the relevant clew eye 2 or 3 turns, then ease the reefing line to protect it from chafing through. Webbing sail ties, with a loop tied in, fit the need.

When going for the next reef, I tend to lower the boom right down and secure it temporarily, avoiding it swinging about ( Eric Taberly et al ) When I’ve pulled down the SECOND reef, it is but a moment’s extra work to ease the first reefing line, clip a snaplink onto it and reach up to attach the snaplink also to the THIRD reef clew-eye ( or clew ’spectacle’, if fitted ).

That facilitates safely pulling the third reef down to the boom in wilder conditions, then attaching my next strop, before hauling on the halyard, sheeting home, then putting the kettle on…..