Leg of mutton mainsails - the horrid truth...

[Mirelle]

Decisions...moi?

dunno, er, maybe...you are asking for a decision from someone who decides, when off on a summer cruise, whether to go northwards or southwards when he gets off the harbour mouth!

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[qsiv]

We certainly have to hoist head to wind, otherwise the (full length) battens get snagged in the lazyjacks, as we do for dropping. Reefing is the favourite party trick - courtesy of mr Frederiksens roller cars, we can pull down a reef or two, or shake it out on any point of sailing (provided the sail isn't touching the spreaders) in pretty much any amount of wind - very reassuring, and also keeps the boat nice and steady.

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[Peppermint]

Re:Your friend could

always try the old gaffer trick and scandalise the main.

It takes a bit more organization on boats with a vang but it's a perfectly good way to depower in a narrow channel.

If I'm doing wind against tide mooring approaches the last thing I'd need is the damn mainsail still up in my way. Even on a gaffer.

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