Adding a weight to mainsail head to aid dropping.

[Fr J Hackett]

Luff slides and fittings: how to pick the best - Practical Boat Owner
My main used to be hard to lower and was fitted with a downhaul. When I replaced this my sail maker recommended I had intermediate roller cars as well as roller cars on the battens, it now goes up by hand and comes down so quick I removed the downhaul as no longer necessary.

Probably quite a different beast than the OP has.

 

[fredrussell]

I don’t think this boat is big enough to consider radar.

I didn’t know there’s a size requirement to fit radar? Boat is 31ft, do I qualify?

 

[Never Grumble]

Probably quite a different beast than the OP has.

mines a couple of feet longer ....

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I didn’t know there’s a size requirement to fit radar? Boat is 31ft, do I qualify?

I personally wouldn’t put 7kg up the mast on that. Technically feasible. I’d got the impression is was smaller, I’d willingly get on the coachroof of that in most conditions to stow the main. Ours is a foot shorter.

 

[thinwater]

... Ha ha, if you can’t walk around on your boat when moored, you either need to not moor in Studland bay in an Easterly, or else you really are too old!

He means the risk of not securing the sail on the way to the marina.

I have not used sail ties in 25 years.

• Full batten sails
• Lazyjacks or roller boom.
• Hook the halyard around something lower (cleat or winch) to prevent the head for being pulled up by the wind.
• Sail cover for UV or if sustained bad weather is expected and I have the time.

I've been out in over 60 knots with no ties. No problem. If the wind was sustained from astern I might add one tie.

I've alsways found it easy to pull down the last bit by placing my hand between the sail and the closest slug. Easy grip. 1, 2, 3 and it is down.

 

[[70521]]

Most people can zip up the bag either at sea or when in port.
There is always the chance of having to raise the main again unexpectedly.

What is your point exactly ?

At some point the OP will need to go to the mast to zip the sail bag or tie sail ties. While he is there he can deal with the last two metres of sail.

 

[DownWest]

A downhaul really helps. Can be thin, as already said. Only one extra rope, and easy to keep out of the way, and means you can do it all from the cockpit.

Same here, I have one on my jib, as it tricky to go up to the bow in my faering if boisterous. I thread it through the hanks, so it doesn't billow around. Quick pull down and cleat off keeps it subdued until I have time to lash it.
On the OPs boat, not only would the down haul get the sail down into the lazy jacks (if fitted?) But it would stop any gusts pulling things up again, until he has time to sort things out.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

At some point the OP will need to go to the mast to zip the sail bag or tie sail ties. While he is there he can deal with the last two metres of sail.

I think most people do not wish to zip the stak pak in case the sail is suddenly needed. It has happened to me on a couple of occasions, particularly when shipping is close to an marina entrance. The same goes for keeping the halyard attached. It's personal choice of course. I can certainly see your point with a conventional sail cover and sail ties.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I think most people do not wish to zip the stak pak in case the sail is suddenly needed. It has happened to me on a couple of occasions, particularly when shipping is close to an marina entrance. The same goes for keeping the halyard attached. It's personal choice of course. I can certainly see your point with a conventional sail cover and sail ties.

We don’t pack ours, or take off the halyard, til we are completely sure we won’t need it. Though if we’re going to sail in harbour, it’ll be the jib, not the main. So our time might be sooner than others.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

One could argue that sailing into a marina would be un seaman like and the best course of action would be to call for assistance. Picking up a mooring though would be different and appropriate.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

One could argue that sailing into a marina would be un seaman like and the best course of action would be to call for assistance. Picking up a mooring though would be different and appropriate.

We sail into CCYC marina in the XOD class, as they do at Parkstone. Doing it in a Dragonfly would be irresponsible. We’d find a buoy, or a pile to moor up to if our engine failed. Or else, as you say, call for help.

 

[WindyWindyWindy]

I personally wouldn’t put 7kg up the mast on that. Technically feasible. I’d got the impression is was smaller, I’d willingly get on the coachroof of that in most conditions to stow the main. Ours is a foot shorter.

Wouldn't that mean 100kgs on the coach roof?

 

[WindyWindyWindy]

But it would stop any gusts pulling things up again, until he has time to sort things out.

Sounds excellent. Though I've never had the pleasure of the wind raising sail for me.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Wouldn't that mean 100kgs on the coach roof?

I”d be faster in the XOD if it did. I am way too light for the class really.

 

[johnalison]

Sounds excellent. Though I've never had the pleasure of the wind raising sail for me.

I'm not sure that the wind ever causes my main to blow upwards again, but it can fill the remainder and there are occasions when I want to avoid a gust doing this as I enter my berth, which is sometimes awkward enough without more windage and hindrance. There was never much of a problem when we were sailing in the Baltic because most yacht harbours had plenty of space to drop the sails within, and I would often seek to do this rather than bounce around outside in fresh conditions. I can't think of a marina locally where this is possible, and certainly not at my home in Titchmarsh.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Me too. I have seen the wind raise a few very interesting things, but never my mainsail.