It makes more of a difference than you might expect
I have the same type of sliding gooseneck on my Bristol 34. Raising and lowering the boom--and the main--can make more of a difference than you might expect. In light air I sail with the main hoisted to the top of the mast and the boom about at the top of its track. I tension the luff with the downhaul. When the breeze picks up over about 14-15 kts I lower the boom to the bottom of its track and tension the luff with the halyard winch. Lowering the center of effort that 16-18 inches is my first "half reef".
When the time comes to really reef, I do it with the boom at the bottom of the track. It's true that a couple of the sail slides come out of the bottom of the track, but I don't find that to be a problem.
Jim Fulton
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