Jib snagging on the mast cleats

[arw-16]

I have been learning to sail with my 16 on a local lake and decided to give salt water a try.  I had been securing the jib and main halyards on the two cleats on my mast.  This would occasionally cause a problem with the jib sheets tangling in the halyards.   I knew with all the tacking needed in the narrow intercoastal waterways I needed to have the halyards out of the way on the cleats beside the companion way.  So I rigged the halyards to these cleats and put the boat into the intercoastal waterway.  As I suspected, a lot of tacking was needed and a new problem arose.  With the mast cleats unused, they made near perfect hooks to snag the jib when tacking.  On several occasions I had to go forward and free the jig from one of these cleats.  What am I doing wrong?

[ilbuildit]

   In the beginning and sometimes still, I would always snag the jib on the cleats. I don't use the halyard cleats either but what I was doing was getting in too big a hurry to pull the jib line on the new side and would drag my jib right into the mast cleats.

   Now when I am changing tack I will go a 1/4 of the way through my tack and then let out a lot of slack in the jib line and let the jib luff way in front of the mast until the jib starts blowing on the opposite side of the mast and I am half or more through my tack, then set the line. When I do this I never snag. If I get over anxious and pull the line too soon, 100% of the time I snag.

   Hope this makes sense and helps out. I am sure others will comment as well.

   Lee...

[arw-16]

Thanks for the suggestion.  In my mind I felt like I could correct it with better technique but needed a place to start.  I look forward to giving this a try soon.

[pelican]

There may be a better way but until I find it;

I tie a towell around the mast to cover the cleats... no snags... works very well

Regards and safe sailing
Terry

[Paul]

Ricky, how are the jib sheets routed?  Around the shrounds or inside the shrouds?  I route outside the shrouds and don't have the problem you describe.  If the jib sheets hang up, it's because of the electrical connection just in front of the mast.

But, as Ibuiltit points out, backing the jib is a viable solution.

[arw-16]

Thanks for the reply.  I also route outside the shrouds and don't have an electrical connection on my boat.  I really believe that most of the problem is in the technique and that backing the jib is the best first step.  I tried that yesterday on the New River in Jacksonville and it worked.  I find the problem usually occurs when I am in extremely light wind or when I have a newbee on the scurvy crew.

I see from your profile that you are from Morganton.  Any suggestions on good places to sail up their?

Thanks again.
Ricky

[Paul]

Yea.  Lake Norman is the biggest lake within "reasonable" driving distance for me.  Lake James is a bit smaller, but is much closer and less crowded in summer.

I understand that the Jacksonville area has a couple of choices, too.  What are your favorite spots?

[arw-16]

Paul,

I am still new to sailing so I have not been to many places yet.  I have sailed a lot at White Lake.  It is a great place to sail except when wind is light and the motor boats create too much chop (which seems to be frequently).  I would suggest waiting for a windy day during the week.  I have sailed the New River in Jacksonville.  If you put in at the Wildlife ramp near the USO on Hwy 17 you will have to leave the mast down until you clear the first bridge about 100 yards from the ramp.  I also have put in at Sunset Harbor near Holden's Beach and found some great places to return for future anchorages for some beach time.  Be very careful of the frequent shallows.  I ran aground there before I even got the sails up and had several other close calls.  I have a long list of places I want to go:  Union Point in New Bern, Oriental, Wrightsville Beach and the Neuse River.  I live a couple of hours from the coast, so I am also considering Kerr Lake, Jordan Lake and Lake Wheeler in the future.  I sometimes visit the Black Mountain area of NC and was wandering if there was any good places to sail near there.  Maybe I will run into you one day.

Happy sailing.
Ricky

[Gil Weiss]

I keep an extendable boat hook in the cockpit for several reasons. Makes the occassional un snagging of a jib sheet easy business.

[Paul]

Ricky:

That's a worthy list!  My family and I thoroughly enjoy visits to Wrightsville Beach and the surrounding areas, but we have yet to sail there, at least in our own boat.  I took a "cruising" class at Oriental several years ago.  Had a great time.  Learned a ton as well.

Our wish list includes any of the Sounds, but especially Core Sound and Cape Lookout.  We'd have truly graduated to SailFar status if we circumnavigated Ocracoke and/or Bald Head Island.  But, we have lots of time to get there.

In the meantime, enjoy downeast NC.  Keep us updated on adventures.