How to get sails up out on the water

[Cevin c Taylor]

I went sailing with the family on Lake St. Clair here in Michigan on Saturday.  We got a bit of a late start, but it was a beautiful day, and my '83 CP16 did fine with four of us on board - my wife and I, and my son and daughter.  My son, at 195 lbs or so, is the biggest one of the bunch. 

We motored out the channel into the lake, and I ran into a problem I've run into often.  Neither my son nor my wife likes to take the tiller to head the boat into the wind as I raise the sails, so I just had to shut the engine off and start trying to raise them myself.  I have a furler on the jib, so it's not too hard.  I raise the main first, and I have a problem with it getting pressure on it from the wind, and it's hard to raise.  This time it got jammed on the topping lift.  I ended up not raising it all the way because of that, and just reefing it, which worked well.  It seems like you should just be able to uncleat the main sheet, let loose the tiller, and the boat will line up w/ the wind, and then you can raise the main.  Maybe I'm just not waiting long enough for the boat to line up.  How do others do it?  I could drop an anchor I suppose, but I'd rather avoid that.

[NateD]

You can try motoring into the wind and tying off the tiller. But I know on the 16 it is sensitive to weight shifts, so that is an imperfect system. You could get an autopilot, but it will set you back quite a bit.

On my 23 I can raise the main while underway with the genoa by letting the mainsheet run free so the boom is pointed directly downwind, then raise the main without too much trouble. I have a boomkicker, so the topping lift isn't an issue.

[marc]

I have a 19 - different boat but the same process. I sail solo. I motor into the wind at the slowest speed I can without the wind easily turning the bow. The faster the wind, the more throttle I need.  I use a line that goes from one rear cleat, around the tiller for 3 or 5 wraps and then ties off to the other aft cleat. This creates some friction so that the tiller will stay centered for long enough for me to leave it unattended for 15 to 30 second or so. (Using a tiller clutch or a tiller tamer would accomplish the same thing as well as being easier to use.)  I have everything ready to go except the last 2 sail ties to remove. (For sail ties I use Star Brite sail gaskets with with ball ends. Go to this link to see what they look like: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=11151&catalogId=10001&partNumber=275282#.UkrowyhWLao)

So once I feel ready, I get up from my seat next to the tiller and motor, remove the 2 ties (they come off real quick), grab the halyard and pull the main up by hand. I can get it tight enough without using the winch. Then I just sit down and grab the tiller.  By this time the tiller is already starting to move since the line that I used to help secure it between the 2 cleats has started to slip. I detach the line that was securing it and go on my way. If the wind is under 10 knots or so, I can usually get the main up without tying the tiller between the 2 aft cleats. Once I have a minute or two to look around and make sure there are no problems with my mainsail, I turn off the motor and raise it out of the water.

That's what works for me.
Marc

[Craig]

I was just about to make Nate's suggestion. Don't shut the motor off. Keep it in gear at idle or a little above, head up into the wind and start to raise the main. if the sail starts to fill steer back into the wind until the sail luffs and continue raising the sail. Repeat as needed. (If son or wife can just keep the rudder centered after you head up, that is a plus.)That is what I do when singlehanding. Experiment a little and you will find what works for you.

[Billy]

I would suggest getting your family comfortable at the helm.
Before you try to raise the sails just spend some time motoring around. Have one of them take the tiller with you sitting right next to them to help their confidence. Have them steer straight. Then have them practice some tacks....all while under power, no sails.

Then after some time they should be ok with taking the helm while you go forward to raise the sails.

[capt_nemo]

Often sailing singlehanded, I deliberately turn my motor OFF, raise it, tilt/twist it (securing for sailing) and then concentrate on raising the mainsail. Just be patient, make sure mainsheet, and any other lines are all loose, then quickly raise the main. Try securing the rudder amidships. Even if the wind blows you off a bit you should be able to hoist the main UNLESS something is binding or jamming.

capt_nemo

[Spartan]

I use the same approach as capt_nemo on my CP-16.

I have on my todo list to run the haylards to the cockpit,  that would make life much easier. Also a tiller tamer to hold rudder straight"ish" would also help.
and a down haul on the jib would make taking the sails down easier as well.

Tom

[capt_nemo]

Spartan,

Once you have led halyards to the cockpit, added a jib downhaul, and installed a tiller "tamer" you will wonder how you ever got along without them.

They all make such good sense for a singlehander and add a measure of SAFETY to boat handling in all conditions, especially in rough weather!

capt_nemo

[Cevin c Taylor]

Thanks for all the input.  I hope to get out a few more times here in Michigan before the lakes freeze over, and I'll let you know how it goes.

[mattman]

Hi, another option (which is easier with a topping lift) is to unfurl or raise your headsail which you can do on any point of sail. Then head up close hauled to raise the main in lee of the jib. If you do this while on starboard the sail will go up to your left and give you room at the mast for raising and cleating off the halyard (by convention I believe the main halyard is usually on starboard). The best option I have found for a tiller tamer is using a bugee cord on each end of a sail tie wrapped a couple of times around the tiller. With this addition the boat will self steer long enough to raise a sail, check a chart, take a bearing and fetch a beer. The above is how i sail off an anchor (I anchor from the stern, better breeze in the cockpit and down below, less sailing on the hook and easier handling especially when pulling the hook , if it is really blowing in the anchorage, I just take line to the bow after the anchor is set, tie off and untie at the stern.)  When setting the hook I drop the main, head down with the jib, do a 360 to slow down, ease the headsail sheet, ease the hook to the bottom and pay out line, a couple of easy tugs to get the tackle in line and an initial set, more line then an easy snub on the rear cleat. boat comes to a stop, finish the set with a little more jib sheet and you are good. Best of luck.

[carry-on]

Wolverine,
Lots of good advice given. Sailing alone, I like hoisting the jib first. I use a tiller clutch to hold the head. It helps but as mentioned the 16 likes to wander based on shifting weight.
Somebody, better, everyone, sailing with you should get some basic sailing skills. What happens when you go overboard?  Your mates may then grab the tiller and prevent the boat from rounding up! I bet your lake is getting a little chilly about now.
Most folks will enjoy the tiller once they try it...so the advice above on tiller training is really important for safety and to simplify raising and lowering your sails.

[skip1930]

" Neither my son nor my wife likes to take the tiller to head the boat into the wind "

Sounds like a crew that has no interest in helping. I'd leave them on the dock. What is so hard about heading into the wind with the tiller?
You said you shut the motor down ...why? Use the motor to drive her into the wind.

So turn that screw tighter to hold the motor where it's parked. Then lock the tiller into the wind and take the 15 seconds to pull the sail up.
Get the sail up. Unhook the topping lift and shut down the engine and go sailing.

I'd be furious with the slackers.

skip.

[Banana Cakes]

I usually hoist the mainsail straight off the dock, depending where the wind is coming from (lake sailing). I esp do that when I'm single handling the girl. And I always do the jib last as it is a Roller Furler, stupid easy to control.  if the wind favors you, try raising the main straight off the dock.