Bending on sails

It may never happen to you, of course, but I had trouble getting my genoa up in just a slight breeze even though head to wind. bear in mind that the angle of the lead of the halyard is to prevent wrap around the stay. When hoisting, the angle is neglible, allowing the head swivel to spin and wrap the halyard around the foil! The only answer I could find was to slip a long, light line through the head shackle to maintian alignment during the hoist, but it must be slipped through so you can pull it out once the hoist is complete.

Nothing ob boats always goes right first time, so be prepared and calm and don't be embarassed if you have to repeat three times before it goes OK. It's not unusual for things to go awry for no apparent reason.

Rob.
 
There's also the point that if you use a strong line for the topping lift - 4mm Dyneema etc seems ideal - if one also attaches the bottom mainsheet block with a decent sized snap-shackle, one can use the unshackled mainsheet - supported by the topping lift to the boom - as a derrick ( crane ) to get people who've gone overboard back to the boat.

For this Man Overboard situation, as with most things on boats it's essential to think ahead.

The lifelines at the pushpit should have quick-release clips, such as Gibb Pelican Hooks; not cheap, but how cheap is recovering someone's' life ?

A cheaper alternative is lashings of 4mm line, to be cut in the event of MOB; but this would leave one with no guardrails that side... this lashings idea was originally brought forth when boats usually had nothing but Radio Direction Finding to fix their local position to avoid 'quadrantal error', now thankfully that vague system has been done away with GPS.
 
More good stuff :)

The main halyard and topping lift are already led back to the cockpit as she is currently rigged which is a useful start

She's already got quick release clips on the guard wires :cool:

The kicker is just out of reach from the hatch - typical!

Bringing the lines aft over the cabin top shouldn't be a problem in terms of access forwards as I don't think we'll be planting feet on the cabin top (bums yes 'cos in any sort of seaway going forward is likely to be a case of sitting down and shuffling :))

(I do need to sort out the genoa furling line though 'cos it's lazing around on the aft side deck - there's a couple of stanchion mounted blocks further forward but I need a couple more)

If the DLW's annual bonus is good this year might have a boost to the boat bits fund next month :)
 
FWIW, sail at least one trip without changing anything! It will help you decide priorities & may save costly mistakes.

Big boats are in many ways easier then dinghies, they are more stable, stuff happens more slowly & more predictably. Practice slow approaches to pontoons/ moorings if you haven't done it before. not that hard, but it will help you build confidence. You can always heave to if you want time to work out a course, go to the loo, have a cup of tea or whatever.
 
There's a huge amount of sense in Searushes last comment; an example might be, in the 1950's - 70's etc Carrier pilots were taught to 'land' on low clouds ( OK for a first vague lesson but aircraft & engines were different at sea level ) and the Red Arrows, along with all display pilots, start at high level then bring their routines prgressively lower.

This all makes it sound too drastic however.

As you have a feel for the boat, as an experienced dinghy sailor you'll be better than a fair proportion of the cruiser people you might find yourself among - hold fast !
 
Main sail outhaul

Back to the outhaul. You may benefit more by having a first reef taken back to the cockpit than having an outhaul taken back to the cockpit. Both is best but a quick and easy reef for when wind comes up would be an alternative to pulling out the outhaul for strong winds.
My opinion is that at least one reef ready to go is desirable. This will account for most wind increase that you did not foresee on a day sail. Do have a separate line for the clew and for the tack. Both coming back to the cockpit and hopefully winches. The line at the tack needs to pull forward as well as down to give a luff that is straight and a foot well stretched. good luck olewill
 
What nobody has mentioned (is it only a problem on my boat?) is that you will probably need someone sitting ahead of the headsail foil feeding the bolt rope into the slot. Doing it alone is possible but involves much too-ing and fro-ing to release the inevitable jams and misfeeds. It similarly helps when feeding the mainsail bolt rope into the boom.
 
Alahol,

I have a feeder - like a small stainless steel torc -, that is attached by a short line to the tack shackle. This slips over the bolt rope and helps feed the tape into the head foil. It drops off the bottom when the sail is fully hoisted. This reduces the amount of to-ing and fro-ing that you described and sometimes eliminates it all together
 
Eygthene said:
Alahol,

I have a feeder - like a small stainless steel torc -, that is attached by a short line to the tack shackle. This slips over the bolt rope and helps feed the tape into the head foil. It drops off the bottom when the sail is fully hoisted. This reduces the amount of to-ing and fro-ing that you described and sometimes eliminates it all together
Click to expand...

Any chance of a picture of your "feeder" please, or does it have a technical name to search for? This sounds like a really helpful item for those of us who don't always have an extra pair of hands!
 
doug748 said:
Be careful not to go for it too soon. Sails can make your boat unsteady if it blows up before you get in the oggin. Perhaps you might go for a dry run and then bag them on deck, till the big day.
It's a matter of nice judgement really, some say never have the sails bent on whilst ashore. I like to put them on just before launch, not being fond of motoring without a backup.
Click to expand...

Strongly advise bending on the sails before launch . If your engine is ever going to fail, the most likely time in my experience is on launch and after standing for a few months. So unless you have a tow boat handy or are launching into some protected marina dock, get the sails on.
 
Quite. I've always done it. Depends on the size of boat I suppose, but if it's not a dead calm day you always have the option of heading up to the wind (trailer boats) or just leaving the sheets very slack.
I suppose a breeze over the stern may be a bit less easy to accommodate.
 
Something else to work out in advance ( I don't know if anyone else has mentioned it) is that if you have furling headsail gear to work out if the drum needs loading with reefing line or not and which way it will roatate.
Many smaller boat owners take down the gear complete with sail bent on. Then perhaps dismantle at home. Forgetting that the drum will need filling before putting the sail on.
 
Lakesailor said:
Something else to work out in advance ( I don't know if anyone else has mentioned it) is that if you have furling headsail gear to work out if the drum needs loading with reefing line or not and which way it will roatate.
Many smaller boat owners take down the gear complete with sail bent on. Then perhaps dismantle at home. Forgetting that the drum will need filling before putting the sail on.
Click to expand...

Ah yes, already twigged to that one whilst having a coffee and fag break the other week :)

Unlikely we'll have the option of bending on the sails before she's launched but as we're going into the water at Fambridge with help on hand if we have problems that shouldn't be an issue
 
Gasdave,

My prefeeder is on the boat and I can't just remember the make, but I have googled and though I haven't seen mine (which I picked up from a chandlers), I found a simple one here

http://www.marinerparts.com/schaefer-ss-genoa-pre-feeder-5-8-luff-tape-5-32-1-4-in.html

And another simple one by harken here

http://www.norfolkmarine.co.uk/shop...cat=1&osCsid=ce5b929fb1f7b4a9b1af4c6e03d36f38

and a more complicated one here

http://www.holt.eu/news/default.aspx?ID=328

and another here

http://www.tcschandlery.co.uk/9523/...oogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=pid9523

Mine is more like the third one, but it doesn't open.
 
Searush said:
For the RR genny, use the halyard to pull the sail up the foil as you feed the bolt rope in. Tie off partway up & connect sheets, feeding outside of everything to sliding blocks & winch. Complete hauling up, fastening the tack before tensioning. Check the sheet leads, apply a little tension to a sheet & furl the sail.
Click to expand...

<confession>
First time I refitted the genoa, I forgot to wind the (taken off for a clean) furling line round the drum beforehand...

Second time I refitted the genoa, I remembered to wind the furling line round the drum...
... but forgot which way to turn it...

I've not made either of those mistakes again.
</confession>
 
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