Handling the German Mainsheet System

savageseadog

Well-known member
Joined
19 Jun 2005
Messages
23,296
Visit site
I have a 38ft yacht with a German mainsheet system

main10.gif


The issue for crew not familiar with it is releasing quickly. The winches are self tailing with mainsheet man's back to winch so a quick release is a case of turning round, unhitching the sheet from the self tailer and letting it run, not quick. The other choice would be to have the sheet in hand from the leeward side but apart from the fatigue, how can the mainsheet man grind it back in without a faff. I had wondered about a different way. Any experiences on here?
 

lpdsn

New member
Joined
3 Apr 2009
Messages
5,467
Visit site
I have a 38ft yacht with a German mainsheet system

main10.gif


The issue for crew not familiar with it is releasing quickly. The winches are self tailing with mainsheet man's back to winch so a quick release is a case of turning round, unhitching the sheet from the self tailer and letting it run, not quick. The other choice would be to have the sheet in hand from the leeward side but apart from the fatigue, how can the mainsheet man grind it back in without a faff. I had wondered about a different way. Any experiences on here?

Have you got the two ends of the mainsheet spliced together to form a continuous line? If not, I'd highly recommend that. Use the self-tailer with winch handle on the windward side to trim in. Have the leeward sheet around the leeward winch but not in the self-tailer and ease it with the other hand. It doesn't take a lot of effort to stop the leeward sheet slipping if you have enough wraps. Using this technique it is possible to make the frequent fine adjustments to steer the boat to windward, handling waves and gusts.

I still don't like gybing a German main in heavy airs though.
 

savageseadog

Well-known member
Joined
19 Jun 2005
Messages
23,296
Visit site
Have you got the two ends of the mainsheet spliced together to form a continuous line? If not, I'd highly recommend that. Use the self-tailer with winch handle on the windward side to trim in. Have the leeward sheet around the leeward winch but not in the self-tailer and ease it with the other hand. It doesn't take a lot of effort to stop the leeward sheet slipping if you have enough wraps. Using this technique it is possible to make the frequent fine adjustments to steer the boat to windward, handling waves and gusts.

I still don't like gybing a German main in heavy airs though.

Regarding gybing, we seem to have that one sorted. Mainsheet man moves to the leeward side with the tail of the sheet, three turns on. Helm brings the boat dead downwind while the mainsheet is brought in and snatched in and let out as the main moves over and starts to fill on the new side. Interesting idea to splice the ends together. I'll have to work out if the hardware will cope with the increased diameter. We currently work the sheet back through when it ends up on one side.
 

lpdsn

New member
Joined
3 Apr 2009
Messages
5,467
Visit site
Interesting idea to splice the ends together. I'll have to work out if the hardware will cope with the increased diameter.

There's a special splice for it that doesn't increase the diameter of the line. I'll see if I can find an example online. Probably a job for a professional rigger rather than trying it yourself, at least until you've done a few.

Edit: Example from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1ZpfeyXKZo
 
Last edited:

Tranona

Well-known member
Joined
10 Nov 2007
Messages
42,499
Visit site
The in line splice is also on the Selden site. Used for furling lines on in mast. runs through the clutches and self tailers fine - you hardly know it is there.
 

keyfonts

New member
Joined
24 Jun 2010
Messages
16
Location
newport
Visit site
I sail on a 40 footer with same system we tend to dump the main using the traveller. As we start running out of traveller we ease the sheet and bring the traveller back more centrally. The person on the main sometimes requests a crew person to be sat on the windward rail close to the sheet winch if it is really gusty to be ready to release but realistically gusts can be absorbed with traveller. Other benefits of the system are when hardening up around a mark you can have two crew sheeting in, one windward and one leeward.

Gybing wise or mast man / or an other takes a lot of the slack out of the main at the mast end of the boom which helps to control and slow down the gybe.
 

lw395

Well-known member
Joined
16 May 2007
Messages
41,950
Visit site
The whole point of it is to play the sheet with the traveller.
On a beat, the traveller does the horizontal angle of the boom, the sheet does leach tension.
The traveller is like a dinghy's sheet, the 'sheet' is like the kicker.
Sometimes of course, it pays to allow a bit more twist, by easing the sheet instead of the traveller.

It does need a good, powerful traveller system, and a lot of staff...
 

rudolph_hart

Active member
Joined
23 Oct 2003
Messages
1,376
Location
Maldon, East Coast UK
Visit site
Pedant Mode on: I have a Dehler with a German Mainsheet System. It has only one tail, led to an electric winch beside the helm via a clutch. I remember seeing various Mainsheet Systems with two tails on the Harken website. They called it American Mainsheet System. Pedant Mode off: ;)
 

knuterikt

Active member
Joined
11 Sep 2006
Messages
1,624
Location
Oslo, Norway
Visit site
Pedant Mode on: I have a Dehler with a German Mainsheet System. It has only one tail, led to an electric winch beside the helm via a clutch. I remember seeing various Mainsheet Systems with two tails on the Harken website. They called it American Mainsheet System. Pedant Mode off: ;)
Harken call it "Admiral's Cup 2:1 with Dedicated Winch" The first boat with this system was a German one, hence the name German sheeting.
The system you describe is not the same even though your boat is German ?
http://www.harken.com/content.aspx?id=3901
 
Top