Association Forum - Wrapping the main

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Wrapping the main - how to singlehanded

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

hinmo
Navigator

Member Avatar

USA
248 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/07/2009 : 04:04:37

first off, whats the correct terminology? I mean the act of folding the main and securing it to the boom while on the hook or mooring?

Anyway - its not easy singlehanded. Is there something I'm missing? I'll check youtube, but I sure worked up a sweat last nite.

"Kukla" '83 FK,SR

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

3477 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2009 : 04:42:12

Flaking the main. I don't do it, but then I don't spend a lot of money on a main. The main the boat came with lasted 20 years without flaking.

I just wrap it (run a line over it tying it up with running slip knots) and cover.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2009 : 05:58:49

I start from the back and work my way forward pulling the sail back and taught while flaking it back and forth. It's not perfect but does a nice job. I use three tie-downs. Takes about 2 minutes, and with a tiller tamer or like device it's easy!

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2009 : 06:06:04

I think lazy jacks are a must for singlehanding. I just release the main (it's on a clutch) and let it drop. I make it pretty once I'm safely tied up.

Edited by - on

Renzo
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2009 : 06:16:28

If I remember correctly there was a thread on this site that delt with how to fold (flake) a mainsail. Try doing a search but in the mean time I'll try to describe how I do it singlehanded.

First while lowering the main fold the luff (The front of the sail at the mast) alternately on either side of the mast kind of like an "S" shape. Then when the sail is completely lowered go back to the cockpit and tighten the mainsheet to hold the boom still on the centerline of the boat and grab the leach (Back of the sail) firmly with one hand and pull it back tightly while folding it over the boom. Then do the same with the other hand mirroring the folds that you made at the luff when you were lowering the sail. Continue to alternate the folds walking foward until you get to the first batten and tie a sail tie around the sail and boom. Then continue moving forward folding and tying at each batten (minimum 3 ties).

That's all there is to it! I have assumed that you don't have a loosefooted main and that the wind isn't blowing 30kts. If you can find a video I'm sure it will be easier to understand than my explaination. Also, as others will undoubtedly tell you, you can also install a "Lazy-Jack" system to automatically collect the sail on top of the boom as it is loward. But that's another topic.

Edited by - Renzo on 07/07/2009 06:18:01

Peregrine
Admiral

Members Avatar

830 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2009 : 06:54:32

Under the heading of "why didn't I think of that before?"
I threw out an old shoulder bag but cut all the side release buckles off it first.
(The frugal sailor strikes again!)

With some 1" webing I sewed one end on the buckle and now have quick release ties for the main.
Renzo's got it right. Neatnes counts, after awhile the sail will "remember" the flakes and fall basically right each time.

John, did you install your lazy jacks?

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2009 : 07:36:45

No, a PO did.

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2009 : 10:42:16

In addition to lazy jacks, I use this device:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/93949/377%20710%201917/0/Shock%20Cord/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710%201917&Ne=0&Ntt=Shock%20Cord&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&page=CategoryDisplayLevel1&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=175&subdeptNum=428&classNum=428

Really works like a charm...we customized the length and re positioned the 'arms', but it's just too handy!

Edited by - on

windsong
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
318 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2009 : 10:47:27

On the water, I drop the main fast and tie it up messy. Then when I get back to my slip, I flake it as Renzo describes. This makes sense especially if I'm going to rinse the sail before putting it back in the cover.

Edited by - on

hinmo
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
248 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2009 : 11:40:16

Flaking - yup, thats it. I think part of the problem is that I dont have a sail stop on my mast, so I have to take the sail off (and leave on the boom. So, I ordered a sail stop today.

I kinda like Redeye's (rays) suggestion. My main is original and not a looker.

I need to investigate these foreign (to me) items: Lazy Jack and tiller tamers. Anything to make my sailing life easier!
Thanks for the replys

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2009 : 11:41:21

I flake my mainsail the way Dave described, but I don't worry about whether the flakes are on alternate sides or are all on the same side, or partly one way and partly the other. I let the sail flake on whichever side it wants to flake, but then pull the fabric aft to make the flakes smooth.

Unless I'm in rough conditions, I always flake and furl the mainsail and put on the sail cover while still out on the water. The reason is simply because it's almost always cooler and breezier on the water than in the slip. I do as much as possible on the water, so that little needs to be done when in the slip, except to tie up the boat and unload it.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

Members Avatar

USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2009 : 19:17:07

I use a shock cord that hooks under the boom from the mast to the boom end. It has short shock cords attached at intervals that stretch around the flaked sail and hook together. I think Davis makes it, but it would be easy enough to make your own with 1/4" shock cord.

Edited by - on

jaclasch
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
104 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2009 : 19:23:20

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jerlim
 In addition to lazy jacks, I use this device:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/93949/377%20710%201917/0/Shock%20Cord/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710%201917&Ne=0&Ntt=Shock%20Cord&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&page=CategoryDisplayLevel1&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=175&subdeptNum=428&classNum=428

Really works like a charm...we customized the length and re positioned the 'arms', but it's just too handy!

That is a really long URL. Just for fun I ran it through TinyURL.com and it was reduced to http://tinyurl.com/mtd7ga

And it gives the same results!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2009 : 20:23:35

I also use DaveR's method, except that if I'm alone on board, I'll do a quick drop and secure with one sail tie in the middle, then do it right after I'm in the slip. By doing it right I mean that I drop the main (using a sail stop) and, starting at the back of the boom, hold the leech tight working my way forward and S-folding the sail as I go. I use 3 sail ties, 3, 4, and 5 ft long, tying the short one first after reaching the first batten. I end up with a sail neatly folded on top of the boom, then put on the sail cover. If there is another person on board, we can usually get all of this done before we pull into the slip.

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

3477 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2009 : 07:36:48

This technique is for the halyards that are cleated to the mast.

I was taught that just about everything we learn to do on a sailboat is based on a technique that would be used if you were single handed and in a gale. This is not hard to do, and you want to be good at this so if the storm blows in you can put up the main quickly before you get blown into the shallows. Also to raise the main with it blowing and you need to sail off as quickly as possible. Learn to keep your hands on everything while you do it so if your feet come out from under you, you can catch your fall with you arms huggin the main.

Get a long slippery 1/4 line and put a bowline in making a loop on the end. Put the bowline loop of the end up on the mast, like over the jib halyard cleat with the tail running down into the cabin.

Run up to the mast and break out the halyard lines on the main, flaking them so they can feed easily. Don't uncleat just make free the line. Come back to the tiller and head up into the wind and secure the boom to the pigtail and tighten the sheets.

Some folks leave the tiller free so the boat can circle, some secure the tiller, depends on the strength of the wind and waves.

Scramble up to the mast and drop the main, pulling down the sail at the slugs until you can get to the headboard and grab the halyard and pull it down and pull it around the cleat. Then pull the halyard from the end and tighten the halyard quickly and cleat to secure it or it can feed out and get fouled. You should be cantered at the front of the mast. Now come around to one side of the boom at the mast and grab the line with the loop and hug the fat part of the mainsail with the line in one hand and grab the line with the other hand and pull the line around the mainsail and push/pull the line up through the loop and pull that line out making another loop and move aft on the mainsail/boom and pull the line around again, making running slip knots. Keep moving aft as you secure the mainsail. Pull tight as you go to pull in the mainsail within this line.

When you get aft to the end of the boom pull the line all the way through your last loop and tie the end of the line to the boom end/topping lift/pigtail with a slip knot. If you have lots of line you can wrap it around the boom as you go back. Then your main is secure.

When you are ready to raise the main you untie the slip knot and bring the line through the last loop and pull the line and it will all fall out.

I've had to do this when it was blowing so hard that the boat would come around once and get blown over as it comes up and I'd hafta lay on the mast as the boat lays over. I prefer to do this technique while keeping the boat speed up just a little so that if it does hafta come around it does not convert all the wind into heel, and the boat will move on through.

When you get good at this you can get it secured before the boat heads up and drops all it's speed and before it starts falling off.

Sometimes I just throw the tiller over and let the boat spin, depends on the wind speed.

Sometimes I leave the jib up, secure the tiller straight, and bag the jib out so the boat will head downwind and be less likely to turn up while I secure the main. Sometimes I lower the jib first. Sometimes I do this with the boat sailing on the jib and I secure the tiller so it will stay on a broad reach. Again it depends on conditions.

Hey... ain't single handed sailing fun! I can't wait to run my halyards back to the cabin top. That made it much easier.

You wanna learn to flake, but you also wanna learn to secure the main quickly.

Edited by - on

Even Chance
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
393 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2009 : 09:35:01

I have lazy jacks, which help a lot. I also have my vang upside down from many folks, with the fiddle cleat at the top. If I need to quickly wrap the dropped main, I wrap the bitter end of the vang line around the sail until I can flake and tie the main properly.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2009 : 13:34:12

You could also point it into the wind, loosen your sheets, drop the anchor and take your time.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

Members Avatar

USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2009 : 15:58:15

Jerry, that's the thing I use, I just couldn't find a link quickly. We hook it up just before dropping the main and have it bundled in 2 - 3 minutes.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2009 : 18:00:47

I generally douse and flake my main while under genoa and autopilot. After flaking, I use the tail of my main halyard and put three or four wraps along the flaked sail to the clew. When raising the main, I untie the halyard while standing in the cockpit and unwrap the coils of line from around the sail. No muss, no fuss, no sail ties.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2009 : 06:26:20

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> I use the tail of my main halyard <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

hmmmmmmm, that would leave the cabin top cleat open to bring back the vang or reef sheet AND secure the main better, LIKE IT!!

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.