Main sheet position?

Scotty_Twister said:
<snip>
Unless the crew was more than alert the possibility of broaching in a slight gust was enormous as the mainsheet could not be released quickly to reduce the mains turning/leaning effect. <snip>
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Yes - they do need to be sailed differently if you want to carry max sail area for the wind conditions - you either need a crew member on the sheet and/or traveller
AND/OR
the helm must be able to feel the gusts and bear away whilst going downwind or headup when wind is forward of the beam - and do this pro-actively ... which is what the normal run of the mill autopilots don't do ....

So - assuming heading down wind, I'll feel the gust (or see it coming across the water) and bear off slightly - the gust then doesn't have the healing force to start the broach... head back up as the gust passes....

If you're cruising and intending on relaxing then it really does mean an extra reef in - but then you can just leave the AP to take you and not worry about the sails.....
 
Aft, mid-cockpit or bridge step are all preferable to the coach roof position in mechanical terms. The only drawback - the increased risk of injuries in an all-standing gybe - is easily overcome by taking two minutes to rig and set a preventer before coming off the wid.
 
is easily overcome by taking two minutes to rig and set a preventer before coming off the wid.
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And the mech disadvantage is easily overcome by adding decent blocks and an additional purchase ... which then means if it's a bit rolly you don't need to go on deck...

next?
 
Q Fireball... related to the Jeaneau 37 I sailed with mainsheet traveller in front of the companionway.
"Yes - they do need to be sailed differently if you want to carry max sail area for the wind conditions - you either need a crew member on the sheet and/or traveller"

Thanks for that Fireball.
The problem I found was that you needed to wind the mainsheet around a winch, undo a clutch and feed the sheet out to spill wind..... not all done in a hurry!
I would change that set up to have the mainsheet coming through a clam jammer as on my set up, so that I could instantly let the mainsheet go and stop the weather healm in an instant.
I realise that with a bigger sail than nmine the forces are greater but I would reckon a better set up than what exists. What do you think?
 
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jonjo said:
If in doubt go coachroof, as with most things in yachting the majority makes the correct selection most of the time.
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Its not a case of majority choice, rather its a case of majority manufacture. Most builders these days will opt for the coach roof mainsheet as much as anything to make the boat family friendly, nothing wrong with that, but there is no choice.

And how about this, in conversation with a saleman at SIBS one year when looking over a particular French boat, I just made comment on the fact that the mainsheet traveller was on the coach roof, and how, when fenced off behind the wheel it would be difficult to play in the gusts. His reply was "Oh these boats never need any adjustment to the main sail, even in the gusts." Really I thought and walked off chuckling to myself!!
 
I think that with an extra purchase and decent blocks that should be fine. We don't use the clutch. Its left open so just take the sheet off the winch to release-
 
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