raising mainsail singlehanded

[roland cobine]

     i plan to do a lot of singlehanded sailing this year and would like some tips on raising the mainsail while on the water. in the past i have raised the main on the trailer leaving the mainsheets loose. it hasn't been a problem but i have been told that i am making a mistake and will eventually damage my boat. im assuming that i should rig the main to the boom attach the main halyard leaving the sail in the cocpit. once i have the boat away from the dock, should i heave to and then raise the sail? i have a roller furling jib so that isnt any problem singlehanded. i know this seems pretty basic but i hope to benefit from the expierence of others . thanks

[Rick Klages]

As for the CP-16 just point her into the wind and hoist!  Also works well on a mooring. Hoist than cast off. It helps if you can secure the tiller amidships.  You start out in "irons" but it's easy enough to veer off.

ick

[roland cobine]

   thanks rick, appreciate it.-----sure shows that i havent really sailed for near 20 years.

[Paul]

Roland,

Do you have a topping lift to keep the boom up?  You can flake the mainsail to the boom.  As Rick said, just point into the wind and hoist.  Raise the main first.

Good luck.

[roland cobine]

    have topping lift-----hmm raise the mast first----thats an idea

[curtisv]

     i plan to do a lot of singlehanded sailing this year and would like some tips on raising the mainsail while on the water. in the past i have raised the main on the trailer leaving the mainsheets loose. it hasn't been a problem but i have been told that i am making a mistake and will eventually damage my boat. im assuming that i should rig the main to the boom attach the main halyard leaving the sail in the cocpit. once i have the boat away from the dock, should i heave to and then raise the sail? i have a roller furling jib so that isnt any problem singlehanded. i know this seems pretty basic but i hope to benefit from the expierence of others . thanks

Roland,

I'm not sure I understand why there is a problem.  On first read I was thinking "raise the mast singlehanded", whiich is a challenge but then I noticed it was raise the mainsail.

I have a boomkicker which is great but a topping lift is all that you really need.  I'm on a mooring.  Raising the main before dropping the mooring pendant is essential if you want to avoid hitting other boats or going up on shore.  Same applies if you've motored away from a dock (or better yet rowed away

It helps to have sail stops.  Load all the sail slugs into the mast slot and then put the sail stop in place.  Just make sure the sail slugs can run clear and pull on that halyard.  Up she goes.  A good tug or a little extra tension using the halyard winch and then engage the rope clutch.  Bear away and your done.  The raising the main part takes about 10 seconds once you get the hang of it.

The main should go up first.  You should be headed not quite to windward for the sail to go up easy, slightly off the wind so you can bear away quickly.

Curtis

[Bob23]

Roland:
   I routinly raise my main on my 23 by meself. The sail always lives on the boom while at mooring. Sometimes I'll raise it at the mooring and sail off, other times, I motor off, point her in the wind, and up the main goes! I do use a winch to help- I had rotator cuff surgery on 10/06 and theres no point in overworking it.
   Having a topping lift is a must; keeps the boom up while I'm fussing with the main. Having roller furling, I use the original jib halyard for a topping lift- works great!
  Happy raising, Roland!
   Bob23 in NJ

[Glenn Basore]

Curtis,

I had a boom kicker on my little H-170 and was thinking about adding one to my Eclipse. the boom kicker is really great addition. what size Boom kicker are you using and what size boat do you have ?

Glenn

[curtisv]

Curtis,

I had a boom kicker on my little H-170 and was thinking about adding one to my Eclipse. the boom kicker is really great addition. what size Boom kicker are you using and what size boat do you have ?

Glenn

Glenn,

Late reply.  Sorry.  Been busy and dropped out a while.  I sail a CP23 and the Boomkicker is the model 750.

Curtis

[newt]

Just because I am curious...
Does a boomkicker have a advantage over a topping lift in a boat of this size? (16 or 23) If so, what is the advantage?
And does anyone heave to when the wind is really up and you want to go to the mast to mess with the main? I'm finding heaving too is one of the really nice things to do out there...when something gets stuck or I need lunch or whatever...

[kchunk]

Newt, I don't have much input on the boom kicker but I agree 100% with heaving to. I've been singlehanding this boat a lot more than I thought I would and we've had quite a breezy winter and spring in FL (so far). In a day's sail, out single, I'll heave to maybe a half dozen times for many different reasons.

How do you leave your main sheeted when you're hove to? I've found the main sail sheeted tight and the headsail a little baggy balances best.

Careful though with the gusts. I stepped below for just a moment one day while hove and the boat was hit by a gust and knocked me on my butt. I popped out the companion way freaked out, but by then the boat popped back up and was heaving along like nothing happened. Good thing I wasn't up on the lee side taking a nature break!

--Greg

[mrb]

Hi Greg
I have a 16 so may not work like your boat, however worked on two other boats I've had.

Just raising a sail or grabbing something close, I sheet in the main tight, let the tiller go and do whatever I have to do. Usually raise or drop jib.

If I'm heaving to because of weather or have to be away from tiller for some time in bad weather, I sheet in main as if I was on a close reach, lash the tiller all the over to same side. Then sheet the jib to windward ( opposite side). The boat slowly drifts down wind and works slowly forward.  Gives a comfortable ride and gives you time to do whatever.  You do want plenty of room between you and shore though.

I practice this with each new boat and well before I actually need to use.

Happy sailing
Melvin

[newt]

On the lake last friday: Winds 22 kts Swells about 2-3 feet, too rough to sail and eat lunch- so I heaved too with the main tight and the jib tight cross sheeted. I was running close hauled and was just too lazy to do anything but tack without tending the sheets. Worked like a dream, and the waves did the mellow out thing that the Pardey's describe in "heavy weather sailing". The only thing I didn't like is the boat kept on sailing a bit, enough to get us out of our calm water slick ever so often. But I can work on that.
Yeah...I'm addicted:)

[mrb]

There is another trick to calm the waves, however I don't think it would be looked upon to kindly now days.  My first boat was a life boat which came fully equipped: sail, sweeps,canned rations, every think you could want, EVEN A CAN OF OIL TO POUR ONTO THE TROUBLED SEAS.  I was given the boat in 1965 and all the goods were labeled 1941.  It is kind of interesting to watch what is acceptable and state of the art once become unacceptable over time.

Good Sailing
Melvin

[Bob23]

Melvin:
   Interesting oil idea. I've read enough books by circumnavigators to know it works. More interestingly is how little oil you need. The oil creates a membrane on the water, calming the waves. I haven't had occasion to need this, and here in NJ one would probably get 20 years to life for such a crime.
  If I were offshore and in a life threatening condition, well over the side would go the oil. I don't think you need crude or crude based. Even vegetable oil would do.
   Bob23, using lots of olive oil on everything!