Lowering mainsail solo

[DangerousPirate]

Hello, I am currently working on my set up and lead all lines back to the cockpit so I don't have to run on deck when singlehanded.

Maybe I am overthinking this but is there a way to rig a line to the head of the sail that assist with taking the main down quicker? I try to avoid running on deck, leaving the tiller alone and pulling the sails down. Sure, one can lash the tiller or use an autopilot or something maybe but I think a line that pulls the main down will make everything easier. Wind always can shift, sails don't always drop smoothly - it would make things easier, wouldn't it? Especially in heavy winds when there is a reason to drop it quickly.

But I don't really see anything like that very often and that makes me a bit suspicious for why. Is there a particular reason? Has anyone set something similar up?

Just thinking, don't rip me to pieces...

-Pirate

 

[PaulRainbow]

It's called a downhaul, a Google search will show you lots of examples, You Tube vids etc

 

[zoidberg]

PaulRainbow's right.... that's a downhaul, and a traditional seamanlike solution. Spot on!

Downhauls can also be rigged onto hank-on headsails - and led back to the cockpit..... "Especially in heavy winds when there is a reason to drop it quickly. "

 

[Caraway]

If you are called Pirate because you have a Ridgeway Pirate you should be able to yank the sail down from the main hatch. If not, please ignore me.

 

[DangerousPirate]

I thought a downhaul is just for sail shape? To tighten the luff. Well, alright then. Guess I'll just rig that up. Guess I can use the old halyard for that when the new one arrives.

Don't have a Ridgeway Pirate, Caraway. Just called cause all the other names were taken

 

[Caraway]

I thought a downhaul is just for sail shape? To tighten the luff. Well, alright then. Guess I'll just rig that up. Guess I can use the old halyard for that when the new one arrives.

Don't have a Ridgeway Pirate, Caraway. Just called cause all the other names were taken

I see. Cunningham to improve sail shape. Attached to the cringle above the tack at the foot. Downhaul attached to the head board.

 

[DangerousPirate]

Alright, I got that mixed up then.

 

[zoidberg]

Alright, I got that mixed up then.

Almost doesn't matter what it's called. You identified a problem, and came up with an effective solution. That's seamanship innit?

Have you sorted out your lazyjacks, then..?

 

[DangerousPirate]

Almost doesn't matter what it's called. You identified a problem, and came up with an effective solution. That's seamanship innit?

Have you sorted out your lazyjacks, then..?

Thank you for the compliment. One tries to learn and solve their problems.

Lazy Jacks done? Pretty much, have the parts on the boat just needs to be put up. Was busy with the solar panels first. Boy that was a job. The pole came with all the screws and nuts and whatnot, half of which don't even fit, no instructions and the chandlery was confused on why I had the wrong parts on my hand. But that's another job off my list.

 

[vic008]

With the leisurefurl, I cast the halyard off and the whole sail wants to come down quicker than I can roll around the boom. I need some kind of friction device so main doesn't drop uncontrolled. Any suggestions? A small bucket tied to halyard tail a d thrown overboard worked

 

[Venus1]

pirate,
not sure how big your boat is, but anyway a few points:
There are expensive sail fittings/luff cars that are so low in friction that the sail drops quickly by itself.
This may not be an option for you (or me) but the next best thing is the use of lubricant spray - helps a lot.

Also, depending on your reefing setup, you could use the reef line at the luff (optionally led back to the cockpit) to act as your down haul. That could pull the bulk of the sail down - enough perhaps until you tidy up the remainder at your leisure.

 

[[70521]]

You don't say what boat you have or the rig, On my on both boats I sail regularly a 10.1m bermudan an a 30 meter bermudan ketch we can just let go the halyards and the sails fall into the stackpacks. OK on the 30 m boat because the main in the size of a small nation we control it, but in an emergency we can just drop it.

Make sure the track is well lubricated. I use silicone spray other options are available.

Just lash the tiller midships with some string/bungee chord if you want to leave the tiller for a short time to make a brew or use a bucket.

 

[Stemar]

I don't know how big your boat is, but on my 24 footer, I used a 3mm line tied to the headboard and fed through the eyes of sliders in a couple of places on the way down. This stopped it blowing out and finding something to get tangled around. The sail would drop about halfway under gravity, so I'd pull it down the rest of the way and make the downhaul off to a small cleat. It worked well, but - top tip - make sure you ensure it won't tangle when putting the sail up, or you'll get that perfect moment to slip the batten past the lazyjack, heave on the halliard and, nope, the downhaul's jammed!

 

[Hoolie]

We have a similar arrangement with a 4mm line fed back to the cockpit via a spare pulley at the mast foot and a deck organiser. A big improvement on struggling with the main at the mast!

 

[ProDave]

My suggestion to drop the main single handed without an auto pilot, is to heave to. The main will end up behind the backed foresail and will settle out of the wind. Lash the tiller to keep it hove to and drop the main at your leisure.

Only then do we start the motor, and think about rolling in the foresail.

This totally avoids the need to motor into the wind to drop the main, which is not easy single handed without an auto pilot.

 

[Biggles Wader]

I dont sail singlehanded but if I did I would regard some sort of autopilot essential. Everything else becomes so much easier if "George" looks after the helm.

 

[Daydream believer]

I would suggest that you need an autopilot. Start the engine. Set the boat about 10 degrees off the wind to keep the boom to one side to stop sails etc dropping on your head. Motor gently forward. Hook on. Slacken the kicker. Tension topping lift. Let the halyard go & make sure it is fully free to run. A slightly flogging sail should drop easily enough. Go forward & pull sail down. Secure the head & any loose sail .
Return to cockpit & adjust mainsheet.
There is no point motoring fwd fast. If you do go over the side you have a better chance of getting back on board if the boat is only just moving rather than doing 6 kts. So if you are in, say a river etc. you might survive long enough for the boat to hit a wall or running up a shore where you might be able to save yourself by unhooking & walking to safety.
I feel that suggestions of heaving too are not so useful, as the mainsail will snag on the shrouds , thus preventing it dropping. Plus as it comes down the balance will change & the boat's head will turn away regardless of rudder as it becomes ineffective as the boat will be stopped.

 

[BobnLesley]

We have a similar arrangement with a 4mm line fed back to the cockpit via a spare pulley at the mast foot and a deck organiser. A big improvement on struggling with the main at the mast!

Ours similar to this. Whilst the sail would dropped under gravity when head to wind, offshore in big seas it was at times useful to be able to get the mainsail down without so doing - the result wasn't always 'tidy', but more so than messing about recovering a MOB.

 

[bitbaltic]

pirate,
not sure how big your boat is, but anyway a few points:
There are expensive sail fittings/luff cars that are so low in friction that the sail drops quickly by itself.

We have a tidesmarine Teflon track on a30ft boat with a very big mast for its length. To get the sail dropped into the stack pack all that’s required is to let off the halyard clutch, the other hand can stay on the tiller.

The main is fully battened (the expensive bit) but that’s not needed for the system to work. When we bought it (2013) the track and cars were a little less than a grand. Best money ever spent in the boat, period.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Having led all lines aft I now pull in reefs 1, 2 & 3 from the cockpit, leaving a relatively small amount to be hauled down at the mast when I douse the main.