Tips for removing a mainsail

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scrambledegg

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When down at the boat the other day I struggled to remove the mainsail off the mast/boom to pack away for winter. It's quite a big, heavy sail, about 300sq ft (~26 sq m) and I recall that I've always taken it off solo and struggled with it - hard to find help in a marina on a weekday at this time of year.
I'm usually tempted to remove the sail in its furled state. Why unfurl and fold up again? It gets furled onto the boom without lazyjacks or stack pack. The problem is that it's very strenuous getting the luff sliders out of the mast gate in this state as this is working at or above head height and lifting the bulk of the sail up to release each slider. I have tried supporting the weight of the sail with a halyard looped around the body of the sail, about a quarter boom length back from the luff, but with marginal effect (sail ties disengaged from boom of course).
Anybody got any good ideas?
 
Raise the boom on the topping lift to unload the luff.
Undo the tack.
Undo the outhaul and move the sail forwards as much as you can.
 
I thread the halyard between the luff and mast and loop it onto itself some slides above the tack and ease the outhaul before I lift the sail using the halyard.
move the lifting point a couple of times
 
Not very helpful now, but a change to a loose-footed sail makes it easier, as well as potentially giving a better sail shape.
 
A couple of days ago I had to swap one mainsail off and put the old “winter” one on, also solo.

With an even bigger sail (c 500sq ft) I wouldn’t be without a stackpack, and want the sail to dry before folding so always hoist and remove the sliders on the way down. Perhaps doesn’t help the OP if no stackpack.

But also often leave the full battens in place, then tie up the sail tightly round the battens. Then use the spinnaker halyard on the front part of sail. Can then slide forward out of the stackpack with the halyard taking 70% or the weight. Swing clew onto pontoon, tie to a convenient cleat, and lower the sail using the halyard.
Going in reverse even better for saving back breaking lifting - winch up to best height then just slide back into stackpack. Hoist to fit slides and ensure reefing lines not twisted. (Both aided in our case by an electric halyard winch, which is also used to lift sailbags and dinghy on and off, like a ship crane - ideal as I really can’t lift heavy things solo)
 
Many helpful suggestions, thanks one and all. I can see that applying uplift at tack cringle or direct to sliders and releasing clew is sure to make life easier.
 
I can see that applying uplift at tack cringle or direct to sliders and releasing clew is sure to make life easier.[/QUOTE said:
That's what I do, only I use a small loop of rope, which I loop around the slide above the slide I'm trying to disengage and shackle the main halyard to the loop, It saves having to persuade the halyard and eye through the relatively small gap. The main sail is 63.57 m^2 and weighs 47kg (685 square feet and 104lbs, for those still in old money), so I can't even lift the sail.

I also keep the full length battens in and tie the sail into a bundle with multiple sail ties, whilst it's in the stack and pack, then roll it and slide it out of the stack and pack, by easing one side stack and pack down, so that I never have to lift the sail.

i wouldn't say that removing and fitting the sail is easy, but it is manageable, single handed, on a calm day, if I take my time.

I also use a step ladder, securely fastened, to allow easier access the the slides, which are well above head height if I'm standing on the deck.
Click to expand...
 
No, I take the full length battens out once the sail is on the pontoon, I find the battens help to keep the sail under control, it's like a long, fairly stiff cylinder of sail when it's bundled up with multiple sail ties.
I then z fold the sail and then fold it. It's then stuff it into the sail bag and I use a sack truck to move it, so I don't have to lift it.
I normally leave the battens on board during the winter, they are long and difficult to move by car (the bottom batten is 5m)
I store the sails in a heated garage over the winter.
 
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