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jeffj
1st Mate

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USA
63 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/19/2003 : 20:50:08

At the risk of sounding very stupid, I would like to ask the group for 1,2,3 breakdown of raising the sails. I have sailed little in the past 15 years (twice) and will be taking my Cat 25 out for the first time without an experienced crew tomorrow. I believe I have all the steps ie. attach main halyard, turn into wind, raise main halyard, etc... but would feel much better with a solid list to take with me. Few details of my boat: fixed keel, roller furling, outboard motor, tiller steering, all lines lead aft.
Thanks very much for the help!
P.S. I expect only using main and current jib which I believe is in the 125% category, no spinnaker.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2003 : 21:43:38

This is somewhat basic, but it will get you going. I think some people have slightly different routines, it just depends on the boat's setup and the technique each person uses.

1. Point into the Wind - With engine still engaged, point into the wind. Be sure that you have just enough power to keep the boat pointed into the wind and not bearing off.

2. Raise Mainsail - Before raising the main, you may have to release the mainsheet and vang some to get the full hoist on the main, then make sure the topping lift will prevent the boom from falling into the cockpit when you unclip the pigtail, and last, but not least, unclip the backstay pigtail from the boom before raising the main(if you leave it clipped, it may get interesting if you have a windshift or the seas turn your boat). Once the main is raised, sheet in the mainsheet to keep the boom from flopping around until the jib is up.

3. Stop Engine - After the main is raised, I bear off the wind in the direction I plan on going, then stop and lift the motor once the mainsail is engaged by the wind.

4. Unfurl Headsail - After the motor is stopped and the boat is pointed slightly off the wind, release the furling line and haul in the jib sheet as the sail is unfurled.

5. Set Course and Trim Sails - Steer the boat on your intended course and trim sails for that point of sail.

Check out this SailNet link. It's got some good info.

http://www.sailnet.com/collections/learningtosail/index.cfm

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

Edited by - dlucier on 05/19/2003 22:50:25

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2003 : 00:23:01

Go to the boat on a nice hot saturday, have a cold beer. Get the boat ready to go out by hanking on sails and halyards, have another cold beer. BS with the guy in the next slip and have another beer. Get back onboard start the ice box and throw off the anchor line run to the head for a leak and get another beer. Pole you way out of the slip after firing up the magma. Drift out into the waterway after yelling look out, and have another beer. Haul up the jib and bein to wonder where you are and why you all tangled in some darn rope, Oh and have another beer. Drop all the sails start looking around for some help and wonder why the beer cooler only has one beer in it. Start the outboard give her the gass like your going to water ski. Engine quits you out of fuel call Vessel assist for a tow some ice and more cold beer.

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2003 : 00:46:24

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Go to the boat on a nice hot saturday, have a cold beer. Get the boat ready to go out..., have another cold beer. BS with the guy in the next slip and have another beer. Get back onboard start the ice box and throw off the anchor line run to the head for a leak and get another beer. Pole you way out of the slip after firing up the magma. Drift out into the waterway after yelling look out, and have another beer... begin to wonder where you are and why you all tangled in some darn rope, Oh and have another beer. ...start looking around for some help and wonder why the beer cooler only has one beer left in it. Start the outboard give her the gass like your going to water ski. Engine quits you're out of fuel... call Vessel assist for a tow some ice and more cold beer.

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Doug - You have described the average summer Saturday of 99% of the powerboaters at Folsom Lake! Want some cheap laughs, just go to any of the launch ramps at Folsom Lake around sunset and watch the people who have been guzzling beer all afternoon as they try to back their trailers down the ramp to retreive their boat! Watching these drunken idiots for a few minutes will clue you in as to why boat insurance now costs as much, if not more, than car insurance.

Larry Charlot
Catalina 25 #1205 "Quiet Time"
Sacramento, CA

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2003 : 07:46:03

Here is how we do it...

First, if you don't have mast gates, have your main pre-threaded at the dock. With two people, head into the wind, have one person raise the main. The other steers and adjusts the mainsheet. When the sail is almost all the way up we release the pigtail. (we don't have a topping lift.) Continue hoisting until the sail is up. Then we adjust the boom vang if needed.

For the Jib, prior to leading the lines aft it was the same scenario. Head into wind, one guy raises the jib, the other sheets as needed to keep the sail from going haywire.

Back before leading the lines aft, if we were single handing you would head into the wind, hurry up and hoist the main, come back and adjust the mainsheet and take of the pigtail. With the jib, set the sail up so that it is already sheeted in and cleated, then hoist. Again with the bow into the wind.....

When we single hand, our motor is generally off when we raise the sails.

dw

D. Wolff - "The Flying Wasp" #401 sr/sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://www.flags.com/dreamimages/Flags/measurer.jpg" border=0>

Edited by - on

Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2003 : 11:16:40

Hi Jeff,

Don follows a procedure pretty much like I do. Here's the "drill" on Snickerdoodle.

1. Remove the sailcover at the slip and stowe it below; and attach the halyard shackle to the mainsail headboard.
2. Motor directly toward the wind at about 2 to 2.5 knots.
3. Tighten the adjustable topping lift.
4. Disengage the little wire "topping lift" that hangs from the backstay (I clip it back onto the backstay); and uncleat the mainsheet, boom vang and cunningham.
5. Hoist the mainsail and coil the halyard - secure the halyard to one of the handrail or cleat.
6. Steer the boat off the wind to fill the sail and turn off the engine and raise the outboard out of the water.
7. Release the topping lift, sheet in the mainsail and adjust the cunningham and boom vang. If you have an adjustable clew outhaul, now's the time to adjust it too.
8. At this point, I would hoist the jib and trim it. But, all you'll have to do is pull on a sheet to pull out the roller furled jib. Trim and secure the jib and away you go.

With a novice crew, it is fun for them (and you too) to assign specific jobs. That way, everyone gets a chance to help.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

Edited by - on

jeffj
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
63 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2003 : 11:23:15

Excellent. I appreciate both the laughs and the instruction. I did print off Bill's post so if you see a Cat. 25 with somebody reading printed instructions while raising sails (and swearing) on Puget Sound today, that will be me.

Jeff

Edited by - on

jwilliams
Captain

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USA
357 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2003 : 13:56:49

Jeff,

Follow the instructions of these most able of C25 sailors and you shall do well.

There is one thing no one mentioned (particularly for single handing), that is the most congenial, quiet, never any backtalk and stalwart assistant anyone can have while sailing...Benny the bungie cord. For those of us on a budget and can't afford an electronic gizmo to steer the boat while we do stuff like hoist, Benny works fine and cheap.

I clip each end to the jib cleats and let id dangle below the tiller. When I need a hand, I take a couple of turns around the tiller, position the rudder in the proper place, and voila! I have 15-30 seconds to do stuff.

Jim Williams
Hey Jude C25fk 2958
Half Moon Bay, CA

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2003 : 13:58:58

One of my first sails on the boat we motored out of the marina. When we got to an area without a lot of traffic, pointed into the wind, raised the sails, pulled the outboard up out of the water and off we went. The wind was such that we had one long tack out of Budd Inlet, through a fleet of sailboats having a race, didn't hit any. Went to jibe around, eased the main and jib out, the boat's really heeling now. Eased the main some more, no response. Couldn't figure out what was happening til I looked up. I'd forgotten to unhook the boom from the pigtail. Doh! We'd sailed about four miles that way.

Best sail trim I'd ever set. <img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle>

John Mason
<img src="http://www.users.qwest.net/~jamason/ali.jpg" border=0>
pronounced "Ali Paroosa"
1982 - FK/SR #3290

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2003 : 15:53:43

as another novice sailor, I offer the following advice:

don't go out unless the winds are 5 to 10 knots. Too high or too low is not fun.

motor out until you are clear of all obstacles and have plenty of room.

sail around with just the main up a little while.

put the boat on a close reach and unroll the genoa.

practice tacking (bringing the bow through the wind).

avoid gybing (bringing the stern through the wind).

You know how to stop the boat, right? - simpleset thing to do in an emergency is to release all the sheets and let the sails flutter, or bring the boat into the wind with main sheeted in and genoa fluttering.

Indiscipline 1978 FK #398

Edited by - on

jeffj
1st Mate

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USA
63 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2003 : 16:50:33

More great advice. I do appreciate this board with its straightforward advice (for the most part <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>) and the ability to learn from salty vets. Unfortunately my sailing friend did not show so I went home very disappointed. Next week will be the test however!
Jeff

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2003 : 17:17:34

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> avoid gybing (bringing the stern through the wind).<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Sailors are often intimidated by gybing, but everyone needs to know how to do it, and it's not that difficult.

In light air, when the wind is dead astern, you can just reach up and grasp the mainsheet and throw the boom from one side to the other.

In stronger winds, if the mainsail is backwinded, the boom might fly across the cockpit with such force and speed that it could hurt someone that gets in its way, or it could cause damage to the boat. An uncontrolled gybe is dangerous. A controlled gybe is not. The way to do a controlled gybe is to pull in the mainsheet until the boom is as close as possible to the centerline of the boat. Then steer the stern of the boat across the wind. When the wind catches the sail on the other side, start easing out the mainsheet.

Steve Milby "Captiva Wind" C-25 T/FK #2554

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2003 : 18:22:10

I think I have an ideal situation for starting up. All the slips at our marina face into the wind.

Something you didn't mention was returning to slips. This is equally as important. I usualy come in under sail. As mentioned the wind at my lake usually comes from the north of our north facing slips. I can sail in with everything very slack. Just pull the jib in a little if more drive is needed, then release is again. I like to have the motor running just incase I am moving too fast. Reverse is great, I think my motor is in this gear as much as it is in forward. I have sailed in with reverse going all the time just to slow down. My old boat was light and I hardly ever even had the motor on the boat.
Last weekend the wind was comming from an unusal direction with force. All bets changed here, motored out and motored in, raising and lowering as described in previous responses.

To get started my usual procedure is;

1. Bring jib on deck and attach, remember the pointy end is on top. Attach jib halyard, on my boat this is the port (LEFT) side. If in doubt look up and see if it comes out of the mast in front or behind.
1a. Lead jib sheets back, I go outside the railing to my fairlead then into the winch.
2. Remove cover from main and attach halyard to top; starboard, right or the one that comes out of the back of the mast.
2a. I have a non adjustable toping lift (TL) and a pigtail. TL is looped on pigtail.
3. Raise the sail that is down wind. I read this is because if you raise the front sail first it will flogg you to death while you are raising the leeward sail.
4. If motor is running back out and point out of slips tighten the leeward jib and cut the motor after you get sail speed.
4a. If motor is not running. Pull jib to windward to get some backward motion, also someone helping on the docks is good too. cut the rudder to the side you want to back to. As sails fill and forward motion starts move rudder to opposite side to get going in the right direction. Be sure to watch out for that extra long boat a couple of slips down too.

Matt/Brigitte Loeffler
E.C. Rider
Cat 25 86'
FK/SR _/)

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2003 : 20:04:39

The bigest and most impotant rule NO YELLING oh and have fun.

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

Edited by - on

Dave B
Admiral

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Mali
863 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2003 : 23:15:07

One additional tip for the roller furler... As you pull out the jib with the sheet, have your crew keep light tension on the furling line. That will ensure that it winds tightly and smoothly on the drum--not bunching up toward the bottom or top, which can cause a jam while unfurling and make furling difficult. If the line does not wrap evenly on the drum, adjust the position of the block or fairlead that sets the angle of the line to the drum (back at the dock).

Otherwise, take things slowly, one at a time... Relax and have fun!

Coming in, reverse the procedures:

1. Furl the jib while under way--easing the sheet but keeping the sail filled to help it wrap evenly on the furler. A broad reach works well for this--keeping the sail full with the sheet eased.

2. Plan your upwind course for lowering the main, lower and start the engine, then put it in gear and turn head-to-wind.

3. Snug up your topping lift, sheet in the main, uncoil the main halyard, and adjust your direction to keep it luffing.

4. Release the main halyard. Your crew can sit on the cabintop with feet on the seats to help gather the main as you lower it. Don't let it free-fall, as the boom will do a little free fall with it. Re-tighten the mainsheet as the lowering boom lets it go slack. Keeping the main sheeted in tightly prevents the boom from taking out your crew as they gather the sail, and gives them something to steady themselves as the put on some sail ties. I use a small dousing line (down-halyard) on the main, led to the cockpit, to get it down the last few feet. Don't turn downwind until you have a couple of ties on.

5. Pass the beers around. Don't worry about making the main look too pretty--you can do that at the dock. All you need is to keep it from billowing or obscuring your view as you motor in.

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 #5032 "Passage" SR/FK/Dinette/Honda in SW CT

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