2:49 But as you're hardening the topping lift are you not also again tightening the main sheet that was just slacked? Or does the main sheet need to be allowed to run free?
Mainsheet should be completely eased whenever you are raising OR lowering the mainsail. The exception being when you are moving or working alongside the boom. for example untying or tying sail ties, flaking the sail etc.
The thing about single handing is doing all the jobs one at a time. The key is prep and the order you follow. For me with the way my boat is configured I lower the sail from the cockpit, then harden the mainsheet. I then go forward and briefly raise the sail once more at the mast so I can flake it at the luff. Then I flake the sail from the clew to the tack as you see in the video. Hope this helps. Autopilot is vital for single handing. I can single Gand without one but it is far more difficult.
@@jondon9963 Are you familiar with heaving to? Without an autopilot and in a stiff breeze this is a great option, just make sure you have sea room because you do drift.
Hi Paul. Thanks for your question. The topping lift is hardened (not eased) before lowering the mainsail. Essentially the topping lift is simply a line that holds the boom up when the mainsail is down. The topping lift is eased when the sail is up as it is redundant at that time and you don't want it interfering with sail trim.
Thank you for your comment Robert. I mentioned in the video that I was lowering the sail at the dock for demonstration purposes, to keep things simple so we could focus on the steps. Perhaps I should have been more emphatic. In most cases sailors raise and lower their sails away from the dock, usually under power. Having said that I like to sail off and on to the dock, the anchor too, and you're right in those conditions hardening the main might move the boat around but if your dock lines and fenders are correct it shouldn't be a problem. If it's so windy that it is an issue then you have bigger problems. Hope this clears things up.
Thanks for the comment. I single hand a lot too. I used to have lazy jacks but got rid of them. Personally I found that they got in the way. When single handing I do the same thing as the video. I lower the sail from the mast flaking as it comes down and then flake the sail on the boom starting at the clew working my way sling the leech to the head of the sail.
Flaking the mainsail is where Í differ from other people. Because I have a Dutchman flaking system, I never flake the main until I'm docked or on a mooring ball or anchored. Besides, I take the main up and bring it down in control, flaking it, once the boats is stopped. Even when motoring people on deck hinder visibility to the helmsman. So to me safety is best than to have crew, or myself, rushing to flake the main. It would have to be on glassy water and no traffic. Great video though.
Thanks for the comment. and compliment. I have used the Dutchman Flaking System on charter and school boats. A lot of Catalinas had it. Personally I'm not a fan but when properly set up it does work well. Happy to hear that you like it. BTW whether I'm under way or at the dock I never RUSH to do anything, I certainly don't rush to flake the main and I have lowered and flaked my sail in some pretty rough weather, not fun by any means but doable.
Great tip at the end with how to tie for one handed release.
Great video. Do an in-mast furling main sail too please.
Thank you Roger. I intend to. Keep your eyes peeled!
2:49 But as you're hardening the topping lift are you not also again tightening the main sheet that was just slacked? Or does the main sheet need to be allowed to run free?
Mainsheet should be completely eased whenever you are raising OR lowering the mainsail. The exception being when you are moving or working alongside the boom. for example untying or tying sail ties, flaking the sail etc.
@@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine Thanks!
Video good... congratulation
Thank you very much
Just found your channel, very helpful. Any instructions on doing this single handed?
The thing about single handing is doing all the jobs one at a time. The key is prep and the order you follow. For me with the way my boat is configured I lower the sail from the cockpit, then harden the mainsheet. I then go forward and briefly raise the sail once more at the mast so I can flake it at the luff. Then I flake the sail from the clew to the tack as you see in the video. Hope this helps. Autopilot is vital for single handing. I can single Gand without one but it is far more difficult.
Carpe Diem Sailing Thanks for the reply. Don’t have an autopilot and have found lowering the main a bit tricky and dangerous in a stiff breeze.
@@jondon9963 Are you familiar with heaving to? Without an autopilot and in a stiff breeze this is a great option, just make sure you have sea room because you do drift.
Carpe Diem Sailing yes familiar but hadn’t thought of that, thanks again!
Why does the topping lift/boom need to be eased when dropping the sail? I have Zero sailing experience, just asking 🤔
Hi Paul.
Thanks for your question. The topping lift is hardened (not eased) before lowering the mainsail. Essentially the topping lift is simply a line that holds the boom up when the mainsail is down. The topping lift is eased when the sail is up as it is redundant at that time and you don't want it interfering with sail trim.
So, if you are in a dock and it's windy, wouldn't hardening the mainsheet cause you to be pushed around?
Thank you for your comment Robert. I mentioned in the video that I was lowering the sail at the dock for demonstration purposes, to keep things simple so we could focus on the steps. Perhaps I should have been more emphatic. In most cases sailors raise and lower their sails away from the dock, usually under power. Having said that I like to sail off and on to the dock, the anchor too, and you're right in those conditions hardening the main might move the boat around but if your dock lines and fenders are correct it shouldn't be a problem. If it's so windy that it is an issue then you have bigger problems. Hope this clears things up.
Most of the time I sail single handed. I use lazy jacks though..
Thanks for the comment. I single hand a lot too. I used to have lazy jacks but got rid of them. Personally I found that they got in the way. When single handing I do the same thing as the video. I lower the sail from the mast flaking as it comes down and then flake the sail on the boom starting at the clew working my way sling the leech to the head of the sail.
Flaking the mainsail is where Í differ from other people. Because I have a Dutchman flaking system, I never flake the main until I'm docked or on a mooring ball or anchored. Besides, I take the main up and bring it down in control, flaking it, once the boats is stopped. Even when motoring people on deck hinder visibility to the helmsman. So to me safety is best than to have crew, or myself, rushing to flake the main. It would have to be on glassy water and no traffic. Great video though.
Thanks for the comment. and compliment. I have used the Dutchman Flaking System on charter and school boats. A lot of Catalinas had it. Personally I'm not a fan but when properly set up it does work well. Happy to hear that you like it. BTW whether I'm under way or at the dock I never RUSH to do anything, I certainly don't rush to flake the main and I have lowered and flaked my sail in some pretty rough weather, not fun by any means but doable.