Another vote here for control lines at the mast. My boat originally had all the halyard and reefing lines led to a winch farm aft of the mast. At some point a PO moved all those lines to the cockpit in order to race.
I've spent almost all my time on the water racing and lines aft makes sense but now that I am doing more cruising, as part of the refit of "Ronin", I am moving the halyards and reefing back to the mast. Like Andrew and Antoine, going forward and dealing with reefing is actually easier when single-handing or sailing with my crew. Which is my wife…. And I will be quite glad to get the snake nest of lines out of the dodger area. Dave 1982 C"&C 37 - "Ronin" On Oct 12, 2013, at 8:09 PM, Andrew Burton <a.burton.sai...@gmail.com> wrote: > Here's another vote for keeping the halyards and reef lines, etc. at the > mast. I singlehanded Peregrine a lot and have no problems operating the boat > with that set up. I think a lot of people try to operate the boat > singlehanded the way she would be sailed by a full crew. That's not > necessary. I casually walk forward and aft, taking my time with all > maneuvers. It seems to work out alright. And I am very happy keeping excess > lines out of the cockpit. Like Antoine, I just have the sheets for the main > and jib and the jib furling line to interfere with lounging. > > Andy > C&C 40 > Peregrine > > Andrew Burton > 61 W Narragansett > Newport, RI > USA 02840 > > http://sites.google.com/site/andrewburtonyachtservices/ > +401 965-5260 > > On Oct 12, 2013, at 5:09, "Dennis C." <capt...@yahoo.com> wrote: > >> Antoine, >> >> I agree with much of your comment. There is a way to have halyards run back >> to the cockpit but also operate them at the mast. Simply install a camcleat >> and horn cleat on the mast a bit offset from the path of the halyard from >> its exit to the turning block at the base of the mast. >> >> When in "mast" mode, you can hoist or lower the sail, temporarily stop it >> with the camcleat or more permanently stop it with the horn cleat. >> >> When in "cockpit" mode the halyard will exit the mast, run to the turning >> block and back to the cockpit. Or, one can hoist the sail, stop it with the >> camcleat, return to the cockpit and pull the slack out and stop the halyard >> with a cabintop rope clutch. With a little configuration tweaking, If done >> correctly, the camcleat can be position such that the line pops out of it >> when the slack is taken out. The line is then free to allow the sail to be >> dropped from the cockpit. >> >> I've sailed on boats with this arrangement for spinnaker halyards and it >> seems to work well. >> >> Dennis C. >> Touche' 35-1 #83 >> Mandeville, LA >> >> >> >> On Friday, October 11, 2013 10:52 PM, Antoine Rose >> <antoine.r...@videotron.ca> wrote: >> It seems that many recommend bringing back the lines to the cockpit for >> single handling. >> Well, allow me to trow a little rock in the pound and challenge a bit that >> idea. >> I too have single handed a lot and personally, I prefer to have my lines at >> the mast. I know, it goes against common wisdom and what many (most) think. >> >> Well, I think it is simpler and easier this way. >> - Hoisting: when was the last time it was easy for you to hoist the main, >> without a winch? When the halyard is on the mast, you have a straight pull. >> One block at the top of the mast and that's it. Pulling the rope down is >> efficient, it goes with your weight. Bringing the line back to the cockpit >> mean adding a block at the base of the mast, another deviation block >> somewhere on the roof, then the line goes through a rope clutch and then >> around a winch. Did you ever figured out how much friction all that is? The >> result is mainsails that required to be hoisted with the help of the winch >> almost half of the way. I raise mine to the top by hand and the winch is >> used only for what it was meant for, adding proper tension. >> - My lines are neatly tidied up at the mast and I have minimal ropes in the >> cockpit, only the two genoa sheets and the main, that's it. >> - Reefing, unless you have a single line systems that works very well (go >> back to my comment on multiple friction induce by too many turns in the >> line), you have to go the mast to pull down the main and insert the eye in >> the hook and lay down properly the main on the boom before pulling and >> tensioning the reef line. >> - The fundamental idea is to make it the easiest it can possibly be, so >> that, if your brain says "it maybe a good idea to reef", you go without any >> hesitation. The easiest it is, the more frequent you'll adjust your sail to >> match the weather. On my boat, everything is done at the mast. When I want >> to reef, I ease the main sheet and then go to the base of the mast where I >> do everything without moving: the halyard loosening, pulling down the main >> to the hook, tensioning again the halyard, adjusting the downhaul, pulling >> and tensioning the reef line, replace a bit the sail and go back to the >> cockpit to readjust the sheet. Usually, when I'm in hurry in a race, I don't >> loose more than a minute for the reefing. When I drop the main (I've >> installed home made lazy jacks), I again go to the mast to let go the >> halyard and I'm right there where the action is, to lay down properly the >> main. >> - I've seen many boats where the halyards goes back to the cockpit. Yes, but >> when singlehanded, you have to go to the mast to pull down the main down to >> the hook, go back to the cockpit to tension again the halyard, go back to >> the mast to pull the reef line and then back to the cockpit again. We often >> say it's safer to get the lines back to the cockpit, well, it is not safe >> if you have to do two back and forth to the mast for a simple reefing. >> >> In the end, before choosing your religion ( to the mast or to the cockpit), >> take some time to really think it through, do some simulation, picture >> yourself in bad weather and make your choice. >> But, no matter what you decide, make it as easy as possible, with the least >> possibilities of something going wrong. >> >> Antoine (Cousin, C&C 30) >> >> >> Le 2013-10-11 à 12:23, Patrick H. Wesley a écrit : >> >>> On a smaller boat that doesn't have autohelm the other things I would add >>> to Chuck's list are a breastline for quick tie-up in docking, and learning >>> how to heave-to. I often singlehand and the latter has allowed me do many >>> things I forgot to do before setting out, or to use the head, or reef the >>> main. >>> >>> Incidentally, many thanks for those who replied to my earlier post about >>> crossing the Georgia Strait, I successfully did that, solo, few weeks ago >>> and the comments helped. Strong wind warnings, gale force warnings and even >>> a waterspout advisory! I told my family that I was back, safe and sound but >>> there had been a few clenched sphincter moments. One of my sons-in-law does >>> not have English as his first language and he told me that he had to check >>> with Google as which part of the boat that was! >>> >>> Patrick Wesley, The Boat, C & C 24 >>> — >>> Sent from Mailbox for iPad >>> >>> >>> On Fri, Oct 11, 2013 at 6:50 AM, Chuck S <cscheaf...@comcast.net> wrote: >>> FWIW, I enjoy singlehanding my boat but pick my days. The sails are not >>> the biggest challenge. For me, it's always been docking. Docking can be >>> challenging in a crosswind or in strong current, and I learn something >>> everytime I go out. The bow of a sailboat wants to spin downwind as soon >>> as she loses forward way. This year I started "backing in" when the wind >>> is up, and that proved a better alternative. The bow follows the keel that >>> way. Before docking, I rig my fenders and have lines bow, stern, and >>> spring, coiled at the gate, ready to take myself onto the float, or hand to >>> someone else. The tricky part is stopping the boat alongside the float and >>> getting from behind the wheel thru the gate onto the float with docklines >>> in hand, and secure them before the boat reacts to wind and current and the >>> bow spins. I think I've learned a lot docking the boat for ten years, and >>> the only scrapes occurred from dockside helpers who tend to pull the bow >>> line in too tight. I feel docking is still the most challenging aspect of >>> singlehanding. The more you know your boat and the more practice you get, >>> the better you get at timing your turns and controlling your approach >>> speed, and the easier it gets. >>> >>> Having the jib on a furler is a must and some days you can sail with just >>> the jib and not have to deal with the mainsail cover or flaking the sail. >>> I use an autohelm to steer the boat and raise the mainsail by hand, using >>> the winch only for the last few inches. When I bought my boat there were >>> two frozen sheaves for the main halyard that forced us to use the winch. I >>> didn't find the problem until the following summer and then I freed the >>> sheave at the mast deck collar and the sheave in the deck organizer and >>> lubed the track and now anyone can raise the sail without the winch. >>> >>> I plan to install lazy jacks, but meanwhile I have to wrestle the big sail >>> onto the boom and reflake it at the dock, before putting on the cover. >>> Occassionally I have my son along and one lowers the halyard in a >>> controlled way so the other can flake and tie the sail on, but lazy jacks >>> would make the job a little easier. >>> >>> Summary: you'll get used to the bigger boat so buy the biggest you can >>> afford, don't forget the annual costs of slip fees, winter storage, >>> insurance. Research and know the value of things. One new sail costs more >>> than a whole instrument package, or a good feathering prop. Setups for >>> singlehanding should include good roller furling, lines led to cockpit, a >>> reliable engine and good engine controls (remember docking), lazy jacks. >>> If you're handy, things can also be added to an otherwise good boat. I >>> added the Harken furler and autohelm and many cruising amenities to my >>> barebones racer, but your boat should include those things. A professional >>> survey will run around $600, so presurvey a few boats yourself before going >>> to that step so you only have to pay that fee on one boat. Happy hunting. >>> >>> Chuck >>> Resolute >>> 1990 C&C 34R >>> Atlantic City, NJ >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album >>> http://www.cncphotoalbum.com >>> CnC-List@cnc-list.com >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album >> http://www.cncphotoalbum.com >> CnC-List@cnc-list.com >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album >> http://www.cncphotoalbum.com >> CnC-List@cnc-list.com > _______________________________________________ > This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album > http://www.cncphotoalbum.com > CnC-List@cnc-list.com
_______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com
