How useful is a downhaul

[Paulfireblade]

I presume there are Pro’s and Con’s, would be fairly easy to set up but you don’t see them very often.

Having considered it might be useful sometimes and I sail single handed a fair bit I was just wondering?

 

[[70521]]

I use them on a 30 meter boat I sail, the main is the size of a small nation and it is really useful.

On my own 10 meter boat I have thought about setting one up, but usually I release the clutch and the sail drops instantly. I think the trick is to keep the sail slot clean and well lubricated.

 

[PTB]

Before getting a genoa furler , I sailed for years with a hanked on genny and a downhaul back to the cockpit. Downhaul from head of genny and through first hank only. Worked well for me. Stopped the wind trying to lift the sail back up the forestay. Like Sandy, our current main drops on its own and its weight keeps it down OK.

 

[The Q]

In my world a down haul is another name for a Cunningham....
Never used a retrieving line for anything other than a spinnaker.
Mains fall down too easily on their own and we mostly use furlers for the jib / genoa..

 

[Stemar]

I used a downhaul to the head of the main on Jissel. All lines were led back to the cockpit, but when I dropped the main, it would come down most of the way, but leave enough up to be a nuisance, meaning I had to leave the cockpit to get it all the way down, defeating the object of have the lines aft. A bit of 3mm cord, also lead aft was all it took to be able to pull the main all the way down and hold it there despite the wind's best efforts to lift it and set the boom to flap around and try to brain me.

It was tied to one of the holes in the head board, and down through a couple of slider rings so it couldn't get tangled when loose, through a couple of little blocks to a dinghy cleat under the sprayhood.

 

[Paulfireblade]

Good info, my main drops mostly but last three flakes remain up rather than folding in to stacpac. Will try cleaning and dry lube mast.

Not sure if that amount of sail would cause a problem in high winds but I find myself going forward as it doesn’t look very tidy.

 

[dunedin]

Good info, my main drops mostly but last three flakes remain up rather than folding in to stacpac. Will try cleaning and dry lube mast.

Not sure if that amount of sail would cause a problem in high winds but I find myself going forward as it doesn’t look very tidy.

I have a short bit of rope connecting the sail header to the third slider down (attached with Velcro “fuse“). Sail generally falls on its own except the last bit, so then grab this and pull the head down. Works a treat.
If sudden squall and need sail out of way simple dump halyard and crashes down into stack pack, and tidy the last bit at leisure later.