Halyard Etiquette

[tome]

Whilst offering sanctuary to a deckless forumite at the weekend I was surprised to be informed that the genoa halyard could do with a bit more tension whilst sailing hard on the wind. So forward of him, I thought. No shrinking violet obviously and I made up my mind to berth him in the forepeak, clear of the rest of my crew to nullify the danger of this spark of mutiny spreading further.

Gracious acquiesence being the mark of a gentleman, I nipped it up immediately and cheerfully giving no sign to my guest of my inner angst. We were rewarded by a flatter sail with less heel and better pointing.

To make matters worse, whilst I was replenishing his bottomless pewter in Yarmouth, he mused upon the possability that most people with furling genoas hoist the sail at the start of the season and never touch it thereafter. This was too much for me, and I was about to throw my latex mitten to the floor when my hard-earned wisdom laid a hand on my trembling elbow.

A deep gloom settled on my burdened shoulders when I realised that my guest was in fact quite right. I cannot recall the last time I adjusted the halyard tension on the genoa. There, I've said it!

In the old days of hanked on jibs we did this all the time...

Just a thought.

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[sailorman]

furrlie whurlie halliard always "let go" prior to final furl of the day & always adjusted as req.when under-way.
old habits n all that, ect
wot about your "main" halliard or "outhaul?.

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[jimi]

In the dim and distant past when I used to go sailing, I often adjusted the genoa luff tension and also eased it a tad before leaving the boat. Tightened when on the wind, in higher winds or when roller reefing.

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[webcraft]

Slacken the genoa halliard off too much on a roller furler and you risk the dreaded halliard wrap on many setups.

I just wish I could . . . I have a gnarly old 3-strand boltrope which sticks in the luff track and have to winch the genoa down if I need to (usually for some sewing . . .)

- Nick


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[tome]

In heavy windward work, we used to change down to a 3 or 4 and then sweat the halyards bar-tight. The smaller headsails were always in good nick cos they weren't used so often. You just knew it was right on the helm when the boat changed from a monster to a lithesome dancer. In light free winds, we'd ease the halyard on the big baggy knackered sail.

Fitting an inner stay to take a hanked-on jib cos 15 knots true is first windward reef and I'd like to keep going past the 3rd.

I'll never stop learning.

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[Twister_Ken]

The Boat Doctor Speaks

Wot's all this rot about flatter sails, less heel and better pointing? Just that I didn't want anybody to see me in a boat with the genny luff drooping like a pair of old lady's winter drawers.

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[Peppermint]

Re:Way back

in those days of which you speak. I did too. I've got out of the habit in the last couple of decades though.

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[Mirelle]

The Yoof of today

The jib halyard is always eased at the end of sailing. The sail stays on its furler overnight if we are on board, but is stowed below, still rolled, when the boat is left on her mooring.

To do otherwise is to risk demonstrating why Thomas White ratsey called the Wykeham Martin gear "the sailmaker's friend".

Of course, with modern furlers you cannot do this, because (allegedly) they let you "reef".


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[tome]

Funnily enough, the main halyard and outhaul get more regular attention. The main halyard is marked with a whipping where it comes through the clutch with the main hoisted. Tension can be reduced by easing this forward or increased by pulling it aft.

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