A bit of ECF advice please

[wingdiver]

Hi
When out in a rough sea and dropping the main into lazyjacks/stackpack, the main halyard is connected to the head of the mainsail too high to safely reach it to secure somewhere. What would you recommend to do to be able to secure it so that it, and the top part of the mainsail are not 'bouncing up and down' with the boats motion? The problem is probably worse as the mainsail goes on a track up the mast rather than using sliders in the groove.
I have thought of using a thin mouse line (or even the other end of the halyard) coming down from the head of the sail where the halyard connects. Whilst this wouldn't help get the halyard itself down, it would stop it bouncing up and down. The other alternative is using a boathook or similar to hook the halyard back down within reach.
Any other methods used by others?
(can't easily get a sail tie around if it's windy)
Cheers
D

 

[Lodesman77]

It depends on how freely your main halyard runs, but when dropping the main at sea I let some extra run out, which falls down in a loop which I put around a mast cleat before tightening the halyard and making fast. That then pulls in the right direction and holds it down nicely.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

As per Lodesman...

Also be aware that if you pull from the top of the headboard with a seperate line or indeed the halyard itself, it can twist slightly and 'lock' in the track, so doesn't always work....

IMHO its about taking care of the masthead, and ensuring that your sheaves run freely... this way, additional halyard runs out freely... and then with good maintenance of your track and cars*, avoiding the headboard 'locking' is relatively straightforward...

* lots of lubrication and/or invest in at least one good quality car with continous ball rollers if possible.

 

[wingdiver]

As per Lodesman...

Also be aware that if you pull from the top of the headboard with a seperate line or indeed the halyard itself, it can twist slightly and 'lock' in the track, so doesn't always work....

IMHO its about taking care of the masthead, and ensuring that your sheaves run freely... this way, additional halyard runs out freely... and then with good maintenance of your track and cars*, avoiding the headboard 'locking' is relatively straightforward...

* lots of lubrication and/or invest in at least one good quality car with continous ball rollers if possible.

Cheers
We have Harken track (system A?) with captivated ball rollers all the way down. It's probably why the top of the sail goes up and down so easily in the situation I mentioned We do lube the track/rollers. May need to look at the sheaves.....

 

[MoodySabre]

Also as per Lodesman.

But how about a mouse line from the head of the sail to the top reef point on the leech. Out of way of the track. This could be clipped on to a small loop of string on the cringle without getting in the way of the reefing line. When the sail is dropped you unclip the mouse line and presto! you have a line attached to the head of the sail.

I assume you can reach the leech of the sail.

Crusader do a system for hauling down the luff and leech of the sail into the stackpack but it's not on their website.

 

[nauticalnomad]

Hi
When out in a rough sea and dropping the main into lazyjacks/stackpack, the main halyard is connected to the head of the mainsail too high to safely reach it to secure somewhere. What would you recommend to do to be able to secure it so that it, and the top part of the mainsail are not 'bouncing up and down' with the boats motion? The problem is probably worse as the mainsail goes on a track up the mast rather than using sliders in the groove.
I have thought of using a thin mouse line (or even the other end of the halyard) coming down from the head of the sail where the halyard connects. Whilst this wouldn't help get the halyard itself down, it would stop it bouncing up and down. The other alternative is using a boathook or similar to hook the halyard back down within reach.
Any other methods used by others?
(can't easily get a sail tie around if it's windy)
Cheers
D

The only proper solution I see is speaking to foxs professional rigging dept for all expert advice, and installing in boom roller furling. They will design it exactly how you want it, be totally professional, and if you get onto them now, and pay in full this month, They could have it installed by 2017.

 

[MoodySabre]

Further refinement of my idea:

Instead of attaching the line to the head of the sail you could attach it to a SS or strong plastic ring that is threaded on the main halyard. You could then pull the halyard down to within reach.

 

[wingdiver]

Further refinement of my idea:

Instead of attaching the line to the head of the sail you could attach it to a SS or strong plastic ring that is threaded on the main halyard. You could then pull the halyard down to within reach.

Interesting ideas there, thanks

 

[wingdiver]

The only proper solution I see is speaking to foxs professional rigging dept for all expert advice, and installing in boom roller furling. They will design it exactly how you want it, be totally professional, and if you get onto them now, and pay in full this month, They could have it installed by 2017.