Raising the Main

[jakeroyd]

A silly question really considering I have been sailing for many years and only have a little boat but here goes.
When raising the main I have always motored slowly into wind.
If singlehanded then I do the same using the auto helm.

This is fine but of course you must be making enough way so that the rudder is able to steer.
If the wind is pretty strong quite a lot of revs can be required.

However , I notice that some people just head up to wind and let the boat become virtually stationary.
Before the boat can stern board out of control the main is up.

One of the problems I face particularly singlehanded is that you can have travelled a considerable way by the time the main is up and hardened up properly and of course there is a tendency to concentrate on lifting the main and getting the halyard on the winch etc and not be looking around enough.
I don't sail in the Solent but if I did I would worry about this.

Same thing can happen when stowing the main and folding it along the boom.


Interested in your experiences with this

 

[savageseadog]

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One of the problems I face particularly singlehanded is that you can have travelled a considerable way by the time the main is up and hardened up properly and of course there is a tendency to concentrate on lifting the main and getting the halyard on the winch etc and not be looking around enough.

You should keep a look out at all times especially near harbours and marinas, yes it's a problem.

 

[Tranona]

You can reduce the "problem" by having a boat with a furling mainsail. However you still have to be aware of what is going on around you and act accordingly.

 

[deeb]

There's only one thing for it: Eyes in the back of your head, as much space as you need to windward and be as quick as you can!

OK, that's three things. My pilot won't work at less than three knots boatspeed, the main is big and it can seem like an age before the thing is up far enough to cleat off and run back to the helm.

Situation is worse getting the sail down as hauling it down takes the same time as hauling it up pretty much, then you need to furl it, tie it in with sail ties etc alll with the boat head to wind.

Very awkward in a narrow river with the wind blowing across for example. You need to find clear space and watch to make sure the space remains clear. Autopilot remote and running the pilot in wind mode helps guard against windshifts.

Worst situation is with the sail half way up or down you find yourself having to bear away, having a bolt rope sail the whole lot can end up in the tide....

 

[maxi77]

Speed is the essence as in many things and decent lubrication of the sail slides is essential. I used standard silicone spray lubricant and the main would go up and down very fast.

 

[aquaholic]

Letting the main sheet out will give you a liitle more time if you can live with a swinging boom

 

[Ammonite]

Buying a decent stack pack transformed my sailing which is mostly single handed or with young family which is basically the same thing. If you pull through the bulk of your reefing lines into the stack pack rather than coiling them all at the mast and use a bit of silicon on the slides the sail should go to the top of the mast without the winch on a small boat (mine is 28ft) so you only need to head up into the wind for 15 - 20 secs or so. Tried and tested in Chichester harbour at the weekends and haven't hit anything yet
Best thing about the stack pack is dropping the main though. I use to avoid having to put it up for fear of wrestling with the main on my own!

 

[VicS]

I don't sail in the Solent but if I did I would worry about this.

I sail single handed in the Solent. I dont worry about these things.

Planing ahead to ensure there is enough sea-room when hoisting the main.

Rough stow when dropping the main. Tidy up later.

Leaving a crowded anchorage can be difficult too. If you don't sail in the area you probably have no idea how packed the more popular anchorages can be.

I did not use to but I worry a bit now about falling overboard. I've even stated wearing a life jacket.

 

[TQA]

As I have a big one and am getting old it takes me a while to get it up.

Motor into wind on AP at steerage.

Full batten main with lazy jacks means I just drop it again motoring into wind on AP at steerage and tidy up when anchored.

 

[dunedin]

Buying a decent stack pack transformed my sailing which is mostly single handed or with young family which is basically the same thing. If you pull through the bulk of your reefing lines into the stack pack rather than coiling them all at the mast and use a bit of silicon on the slides the sail should go to the top of the mast without the winch on a small boat (mine is 28ft) so you only need to head up into the wind for 15 - 20 secs or so. Tried and tested in Chichester harbour at the weekends and haven't hit anything yet
Best thing about the stack pack is dropping the main though. I use to avoid having to put it up for fear of wrestling with the main on my own!

+1. Stack pack and Silicone lubrication of the sail slides works for me also

 

[Gk 66]

Stop head to wind. Hoist main whilst scandalised with topping lift. Once back in cockpit ease topping lift on kicker on mainsheet. Sail away.

 

[john_morris_uk]

+1. Stack pack and Silicone lubrication of the sail slides works for me also

+1. Sums up how things are on our boat as well very nicely.

 

[prv]

You can reduce the "problem" by having a boat with a furling mainsail.

Or, at the opposite end of the technological scale, a gaff mainsail . Mast hoops and lacing slide up and down whichever way the boat is pointing.

Pete

 

[lustyd]

I don't sail in the Solent but if I did I would worry about this.

This isn't a problem at all in the Solent - people simply motor to windward all the way to the destination. As long as the sail is up just before they get to Cowes so everyone can see them take it down then it's a success. On Saturday I saw probably 15 yachts coming from chichester in an easterly wind with their sails down (they would have been on a run in bright sunny flat calm conditions) who motored through Chi harbour and then out into the Solent. Including me, I saw around 5 boats sailing with this perfect run and beam reach to get out of the harbour.

 

[Pye_End]

However , I notice that some people just head up to wind and let the boat become virtually stationary.
Before the boat can stern board out of control the main is up.

Some boats only need a low speed to steer compared with others, and some will steer with prop water over the rudder without having to make way through the water.

Others may have crew, and short squirts of revs needed to steer can also avoid the need to make way.

You 'just' have to work out the best way of doing it for you. Get all the lines sorted beforehand, and ties off the main etc. Pull halyard by hand till you can't as it is quicker. Sort out a heading when it is up and then sort out the topping lift, kicker etc. If there is a quieter/bigger batch of water nearby, then use that instead. Sometimes it can be awkward, but made easier by goodwill of other boaters.

 

[Amulet]

As I have a big one and am getting old it takes me a while to get it up.

I find a bit of the aforementioned silicone lubricant helps, and if you need a bit of extra purchase - rig up a double entendre.

 

[aquaplane]

I find a bit of the aforementioned silicone lubricant helps, and if you need a bit of extra purchase - rig up a double entendre.

I get my crew to give me one, when needed.

 

[Cbjroms]

Very interested in this thread having just sold my Laser dinghy and purchased a 'pocket' cruiser which is on a swing mooring in Southampton Water.

In light of my dinghy experience, I had assumed (cruiser ashore at the moment) that the main could be hoisted whilst on the mooring and left untrimmed whilst I motor out into clear water. But this thread suggests to me that best practice is to leave the main stowed until you have motored out into clear water.

Am I missing something?

Thanks

Chris

 

[alahol2]

Very interested in this thread having just sold my Laser dinghy and purchased a 'pocket' cruiser which is on a swing mooring in Southampton Water.

In light of my dinghy experience, I had assumed (cruiser ashore at the moment) that the main could be hoisted whilst on the mooring and left untrimmed whilst I motor out into clear water. But this thread suggests to me that best practice is to leave the main stowed until you have motored out into clear water.

Am I missing something?

Thanks

Chris

Your first instincts are correct. I'm on a fore/aft mooring and I will normally drop the stern mooring so that I can swing to the wind before raising the main. Just occasionally the wind/current do not play ball and I have to leave the mooring and find a clear patch of water to hoist sail. If at all possible I will also raise sail whilst lying to my anchor. It's easier if you know the boat won't go anywhere whilst you are tending to the sails.

 

[CFarr]

Very interested in this thread having just sold my Laser dinghy and purchased a 'pocket' cruiser which is on a swing mooring in Southampton Water.

In light of my dinghy experience, I had assumed (cruiser ashore at the moment) that the main could be hoisted whilst on the mooring and left untrimmed whilst I motor out into clear water. But this thread suggests to me that best practice is to leave the main stowed until you have motored out into clear water.

Am I missing something?

Thanks

Chris

Not in my books. I'll nearly always take the opportunity to raise the main whilst attached to buoy or anchor if safe to do so.