Basics - Topping lift removed when sail is up?

[Jaguar 25]

As relatively new sailors, we tend to leave the topping lift attached to the boom when the sail is raised.

Is this bad practice? (We do always take the fenders in!).

 

[photodog]

I haven't touched the topping lift in 6 years.

 

[Daedelus]

If it gets in the way or might catch on something one trick is to fix a short length of shockcord in the line so that the line forms a loop.

When the boom weight is taken by the toping lift it pulls on the shockcord which lengthens and the line takes the weight, when you put the sail up and the boom lifts the slack in the topping lift is taken out by the shockcord.

 

[Simondjuk]

It's standard practice to leave it in place.

However, I have a piece of shockcord rolling hitched to the topping lift a couple of feet up from the boom and made off to the boom. This takes the slack out of the line whilst sailing, stopping it slapping against the sail. I hate the sound of wear.

Edit: Just like that! ^^^

 

[boguing]

Racers will move it to the backstay, all others should leave it a bit loose so that it doesn't mess up the sail shape.

 

[westernman]

It light winds when heading downwind, we will take the topping lift off the end of the boom and attach it to the gooseneck to prevent it chafing the sail when the boat rolls in the waves.

 

[capnsensible]

In my racing days, it was always taken up to the mast out of the way.

All the yachts I've sailed with rod kickers have made it rather redundant.

The 2 yachts I usually sail have rope kickers (vang) so I just loosen it enough to not get caught round anything and not get too tight wnen sheeting in.

 

[Jaguar 25]

Thanks. I will try some shockcord. Sounds very sensible.

 

[jordanbasset]

We just loosen it off a little.

 

[crewman]

Leaving it attached to the boom but slackened makes reefing much easier if you do not have a rod kicker. Trying to attach the topping lift to a wildly bouncing boom is a little tricky. With it attached all you need to do is retighten it.

 

[Kelpie]

Umm, if you take if off, what do you do when you have to reef?

EDIT: too slow

 

[oldvarnish]

All the yachts I've sailed with rod kickers have made it rather redundant.

/QUOTE]

That's true but I leave mine attached in the (unlikely) event I'd need a spare main halyard

 

[Simondjuk]

As above, I like to have a backup halyard. Since we have a fractional rig, the topping lift is also the only other line which provides a proper safety when climbing to the top of the mast.

 

[Daydream believer]

As a slight aside: but whilst on the subject of topping lifts:-
On my last boat I had the topping lift adjustment at the boom end to save going foreward
A small pair of blocks to make it easier to pull in & a small cleat on the boom
As the boat went into stays I could reach up above my head & adjust it to the required tension
I have used the topping lift in light wind to create twist & take the weight of the boom etc off the sail

Now the line is lead from the mast to the cockpit so do not need it

I note most people have a fairly thin topping lift. On one ocassion as i lowered the sail the cleat on the sail at the third reef caught the topping lift & cleated itself
I tried to lower the sail in high wind one night & it would not come down
Bing dark i could not see what was causing it
The solution was to re hoist the sail & pull the topping lift down a bit to disconnect the cleat from the sail

 

[onesea]

Umm, if you take if off, what do you do when you have to reef?

EDIT: too slow

With no topping lift you just have to winch harder to lift the boom when it gets to that stage. No the end of the world, and for me not worth fitting a topping lift for, I am sure some will come along and tell me I am wrong.

ON the boats I raced, all redundant halyards topping lifts etc where brought to the mast to try and reduce wind-age, I guess it must make a small difference...

 

[blackdogsailing]

All the yachts I've sailed with rod kickers have made it rather redundant.

It is now purely a spare main halyard. I have left mine in place solely for that reason.
Chris

 

[Kelpie]

I suppose it's the same as the way I reef the Wayfarer underway- no topping lift there. It's a case of doing a bit of halyard, then a bit of reefing line, until you are there. All quite manageable with a small boat I suppose.

 

[bbg]

Regarding reefing without a topping lift or any other boom support. What worked for me was to mark the main halyard at the place I wanted to drop it to for reefing, hook it on the horn, take up the halyard then haul on the reefing line. Easy peasy and if the main sheet is off (which it should be) the worst that will happen is that the boom will rest on the guard wires for a minute or two.

Edit - oops just real used I had lazy jacks that supported the boom when reefing.

 

[Daydream believer]

The trouble with letting off the topping lift is that the boom is low & can swing about if for some reason the boat is allowed to go off course
i prefer to hoist it clear of my head. This also stops the mainsheet hooking the winches etc
i have single line reefing & it helps to take the weight of the boom to help the clew end pull nice & tight
it also prevents the clew going foreward a bit due to the angle of the boom pointing downwards & thus giving the sail a tendancy to want to move foreward as it used to on my first boat which had roller reefing on the boom & nothing to pull the leach aft as the boom was rotated
But in the end it is a case of " to each his own" & what works for one may not work for another

 

[doug748]

I was on a small boat once and the topping lift saved the mast.

We were on the wind in mid channel, there was a noise like naval gunfire and the backstay, and attached equipment, came through the cockpit in slow time animation, during the next few frames the main split from front to back. I looked at the masthead as it circled around the stars, waiting for it to fall. It didn't, the skipper had tied the topping lift to the pushpit and it held.