The main is very hard to raise because of the friction throughout the reefing system. I added blocks to all reef points on the mainsail. The luff reefing rings each got a Ronstan RF50500 50mm block on a universal swivel head and small shackle. The 1st reef (lower) got a high load version (HL) with a MWL of 1760lbs and BL of 3310lbs. The two reef points on the clew each got a Ronstan RF51101 block with a MWL of 1650lbs and a BL of 3310lbs. Each block had a single loop top and was secured to the sail with 1 nylon webbing, run twice through the block and reef cringle and secured with a web lock.
The main is now much easier to raise but it also helps to pull extra lengths of each reef line at the end of the boom before raising the sail.