torn in two?

[jezjez]

On Sunday in the heavy winds on the east coast, my roller reefing headsail unfurled itself while I was in the supermarket and when i arrived on my boat, someone had very kindly gone on board and tied it back up. Thank you, if it was you.
I was told by a member of the sailing club that it was seen flogging for only a short time.
My question is, the jib sheet had parted but the sail was untouched. Do you think my kind saviour had to cut the rope for some reason? I just can't work out how it would sheer through. And opinion is that the sail would have flogged to death first before the sheet parted. The rope was in good condition but I do have an inner forestay which often causes jamming when I tack. The ends of the parted rope are quite frayed, and it ends about 60cm from the sail foot.
I'm not wishing ot blame my helper, on the contrary, I'd like to know what might have happened had he/she not stepped in.

 

[fireball]

You should be able to tell if the line has been cut or worn through - just examine the ends for fraying... a worn through one will be worn more along the length rather than a rough cut through.

 

[Lakesailor]

Hard to say really. I had a friend's boat do the same on the moorings, but the sheet caught on a shround mounted cleat and the sail filled, so the boat sailed up and down on it's mooring scope for a while until I caught it up in my tender (rowing like mad) and managed to calm it down, but it did create a hell of a lot of difficulty in releasing the jammed sheet. I wonder if he had had a problem like that?

 

[jezjez]

thanks - there's probably lots of sharp bits it could have wrapped round. The wind speed was clocked at 30+ knots they tell me. So lots of power.
The frayed ends are long on the attached bit, and short on the now unattached end. That sounds like a chafed through end, then?

 

[jonjo]

Do you normally immobilise your furling headsail when leaving the boat for a long period?

I run a sail tie around the clew before going home in fear of experiencing what you did, the downside is forgetting about the tie and heading out to sea.

 

[jezjez]

I didn't, but now i tie off the end in the cockpit securely.
I once sailed from Auckland to Tonga - our first night out we were hit by strong weather, we had a double reef in both sails and the reefing line to the headsail sheared at the point where it passes through an eye in the metal guide infront of the drum. I have always remembered this as my sister went to the bow and disappeared for a few seconds under a big wave and saw the dolphins from under water - so i never trust that system for going far afield. The upshot was 4 days storm bound in the bay of islands, but my sister did make the headsail secure. She's my older sister, that's why i let her go! And it was her boat.

 

[gandy]

How did the sail unfurl? Furling line come loose? I'm now thinking how we can prevent the same happening. All I do at the moment is furl the sail right up which gives about three wraps of the sheets round the sail, then make off the furling line and both sheets at the cockpit

 

[Lakesailor]

I used the foolproof method of using a plastic coated bike lock (one of the bendy cable types) around the furled headsail and through the sheet bowlines.
It also meant "joyriders" wouldn't choose your boat. Or am I being paranoid?

 

[davidpbo]

[ QUOTE ]
Or am I being paranoid?

[/ QUOTE ]

I doubt it sadly.

 

[fibz99]

A few years ago a 30knt+ squall came over my home mariner, some mates saved my loosley furled jenny which wasnt locked fully off on the sheets /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif, even with the furl line tight, the sail got in a right mess. A first 30 nearby, unfurled her jenny that got ripped in half within seconds.
Now i always loop a sail tie around the tube of the sail and make fast to the pullpit, at least then you have a visible reminder shes locked.
In answer to your question, if this person hadnt stepped in you wouldnt be trying to tell the difference between a cut and a chafe, you'd be pricing up a new sail /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Action deserving of a pint. (cost me about 10 pints /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

 

[oldsaltoz]

Was the parted sheet on the windward side?

If the sail unrolled but the windward sheet jammed then it may well have been chafed by the inner forestay by the flogging.

Just a thought.

Avagoodweekend.

 

[fishermantwo]

[ QUOTE ]
I used the foolproof method of using a plastic coated bike lock (one of the bendy cable types) around the furled headsail and through the sheet bowlines.
It also meant "joyriders" wouldn't choose your boat. Or am I being paranoid?

[/ QUOTE ]

I look at all those yachts on moorings ready to go, begging to be stolen. I'm sure its only because the lowlives just don't know how to sail.
The pensioners who don't sleep might see them going. Early morning, outgoing tide, offshore breezes here this time of the year. Probably be half way to New Zealand or some other 3rd world country before anyone noticed. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[oldsaltoz]

[ QUOTE ]
Probably be half way to New Zealand or some other 3rd world country before anyone noticed. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

OOwerrr Graham,

The Kay one W ones will flame you for calling them 3d world.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[andy_wilson]

Insurance.

If you can, have the sheets and a furling line arranged so that when fully furled you get a wrap or 3 of the sheets round the sail.

Cleat off the furling line securely, and the sheets.

Then... when leaving the boat unattended, tie a line between the tack of the sail and the pulpit rail. That way, in any event the sail can't unfurl (actually it could, if the sheets failed and the boat was blown round and round in the right direction to unfurl it - highly doubtful).