2. The TACK is fixed to the gooseneck and the foot of
the sail tcnsioned at the clew.
3. BATTENS are slid into their pockets.
4. The LUFF SLIDES ure fed into the groove in the mast
via a mast gate and the gate closed.
SAIL COVERS
The bent-on sail is usually protected by a sail cover which can be
fastened in a variety of ways. It's removed by rolling or flaking like
this.
SAIL TIES
The furled sail
is secured by a number
of SAIL TIES. These can
be made of rope, tape or elastic.
The ties can be
secured in a number of ways, but a simple bow is as good as any. Ask the
skipper how he wants them secured but be very careful of elastic as it
can sometimes hit you in the eye.
HOISTING THE MAINSAIL
1. Check all sail slides are in groove.
2. Remove sail ties, working forward.
3. Attach halyard.
4. Free sheet and kicking strap.
5. Look up to check halyard is clear.
6. Hoist the sail When on a CLOSE REACH.
7. Tension halyard and outhaul
8. Ease topping lift.
9. Tension kicker and sheet.
10. Coil and stow halyard.
REEFING
1. Ease kicker and sheet
2. I'm .urn topping lift.
3. Ease halyard.
4. Pull luff down.
5. Hook on reefing cringle and re ten.sion halyard.
6. Haul down the leech reefing pennant. LOOK UP FOR SNAGS.
7. Take up slack in other reefing pennants.
8. Ease topping lift, tension kicker and sheet.
9. Tidy up the loose bunt of the sail and secure it
with reef knots (see
page 33). These should not be so tight as to cause creases (as here) and
also should not trap the other reefing lines. Remember, always work on
the high (windward) side of the boom.
SHAKING OUT A REEF
1. Work on the weather (high) side.
2. Remove ties.
3. Ease kicker and sheet.
4. Tension topping lift.
5. Ease all pennants.
6. Ease halyard.
7. Unhook reef cringle.
8. Tension luff with halyard.
9. Ease topping lift.
10. Tension kicker and adjust sheet if
needed.
HANDING THK MAINSAIL(Lowering)
1. Ease the main sheet.
2. Ease kicker.
3. Tension topping lift.
4. Ease halyard.
5. Pull luff down.
6. Pull sail aft.
7. When the sail is down tighten the main sheet
to steady the boom.
8. Try to Hake the sail down or.
8.....form a sort of pocket in the
sail and push the folds of the sail into it. The top of the
pocket can be folded over the sail to act as a cover and let any
rain run off.
In heavy weather and short handed
add a safety tuck to the main sheet (as shown) and haul
the sail aft tying it down as you work your way forward.
SAIL CONTROLS
The mainsail is controlled by a
powerful blofek and tackle system called the mainsheet.
A small force on the mainsheet tail (A) is multiplied
by the pulleys to a large force (B).
Subtle sail adjustments can be
made by moving the mainsheet across the boat on the mainsheet
track.
Another smaller set of lines,
blocks and cleats (C) are used to control this movement.
The kicking strap helps
control the shape of the sail and stops the boom lifting when
the main sheet is let full out.
The headsails are controlled by the
jib or genoa sheets, these are led aft through fairleads
or jib or genoa cars. To get the correct angular pull, the
cars can be moved to set positions on the track (D)
or adjusted by a line and pulley system (E).
The sheets finally arrive back at
the cockpit and are controlled by wrapping them clockwise around
a winch.
A winch handle adds extra
leverage and sometimes has a lock to save it falling out
and a ratchet to make turning it easier.
USING FRICTION
The more turns you make with a
rope the more friction you get. So very large forces can be
controlled with the minimum of effort. Winches use this
principle.
USING WINCHES
Use only one turn to
pull in the slack jib sheet, because if you use more it will
probably jam.
As the load comes on
the sheet add more turns to increase friction. But, keep pulling
on the tail.
The winch handle is
used to increase leverage. Wind in the sheet the required amount
and secure to cleat.
SELF-TAILING WINCH
RELEASING
Here the
tail is gripped by the top of the winch so both hands can be used on the handle.
To let the sheet out slightly, ease the turns round the drum with the palm of the hand, while keeping your fingers clear.
To release quickly, flick the turns off the top of the winch.
For speed, one person can tail (A) (pull the end of the sheet) while the other winds (B), putting his whole weight behind the handle. Pulling a loaded line at right angles and quickly taking up the slack is called swigging or sweating (C).
