I Can't Sail, What Am I Doing Wrong?

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

In anything but very calm conditions, you run the risk of taking a wave on the deck and having all that water go right down the hatch. On the other hand, when the conditions are right, I have sailed with some of the hatches open before. It is a bit of a risk, but then so is all of life--risks are meant to be managed, not necessarily just always avoided entirely.

yes, i could completely see that. makes sense.
1-2' wave height when we were out, and he never shut them because he is a smoker, and i bet the boat smells of smoke. Honestly we were more worried about black mold ourselves.

[OldFrog75]

Originally Posted by eyschulman

Does that main sail have a Duchman flaking system and if so does part of the system need to be slacked to free up the main sail? Hard to learn how to sail on the internet..

That's what it looks like to me. I think you need to release the flaking system right after you hoist the main. If you don't, best case scenario is you have lousy shape, worst case scenario you break the filament when the wind picks up and render the system useless.

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by OldFrog75

That's what it looks like to me. I think you need to release the flaking system right after you hoist the main. If you don't, best case scenario is you have lousy shape, worst case scenario you break the filament when the wind picks up and render the system useless.

how do you release it?

[OldFrog75]

Originally Posted by scoobert

how do you release it?

Hard to tell without being there but usually there is a cleat at the back of the boom that you can release and then ease or tighten the filaments by adjusting the height of that little block (the thing up high that looks like it's pulling the top part of the sail out of shape). If you release the cleat and ease the line the block should move higher and ease the tension on the filaments.

[Greggegner]

First don't let us get to you. I second the idea of raising the sail at the dock with little wind. Make sure the topping lift, Dutchman, main sheet are slack. Watch the sail slides, make sure the don't bind ( one could be broken). Have binoculars so you can look up the mast. Once up (I mean tight), adjust the outhaul. Before you drop the main, tighten the topping lift and flaking system. I suggest getting a solid vang. Let us know.

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by Greggegner

First don't let us get to you.

if i did i would have been gone in march 2011

[Dennis.G]

As other have said, you have a Dutchman mainsail furling system. Once mainsail is up, the topping lift (line from top of mast to end of boom) needs to be loosened to allow sail to have its normal shape. The topping lift and Dutchman lines should have no tension on them when sailing. See photo below. Topping lift can be rigged to be adjusted either from the boom end direction (like photo) or from mast top. In either case topping lift line will likely come to base of mast, and then maybe back to cockpit.

[scoobert]

oooohhhhhhh. yeah. thats it then.
he had that tensioned. having that loose, on untethered will not hurt or rub the sail?

also HOW DOES THE SAIL LOOK? as in, does it look wore out, stretched, or old?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by scoobert

oooohhhhhhh. yeah. thats it then.
he had that tensioned. having that loose, on untethered will not hurt or rub the sail?

also HOW DOES THE SAIL LOOK? as in, does it look wore out, stretched, or old?

That's nearly impossible to tell from Internet pictures of a poorly set an trimmed sail. It does look dirty, but that doesn't say a lot

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

That's nearly impossible to tell from Internet pictures of a poorly set an trimmed sail. It does look dirty, but that doesn't say a lot

oh, i didn't realize, thanks.

[sailorboy1]

If you have a Dutchman installed correctly you shouldn't need to slacken the topping lift after raising the sail (I never release mine as once the sail lifts it becomes slack by itself). Not supporting the Dutchman as I'm not a fan even though I have one, am just saying.

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by Don L

If you have a Dutchman installed correctly you shouldn't need to slacken the topping lift after raising the sail (I never release mine as once the sail lifts it becomes slack by itself). Not supporting the Dutchman as I'm not a fan even though I have one, am just saying.

thank you, that explains it all.

[mikepmtl]

Other problems with having hatches open under sail is a line can easily get tangled up in on. On a windy day it could probably rip it right out.

[Dennis.G]

Originally Posted by Don L

If you have a Dutchman installed correctly you shouldn't need to slacken the topping lift after raising the sail ...

The linked instructions say to "Just raise the sail and ease the topping lift as you normally would".

If you don't have to do this on your boat, would say that you are an exception and not the rule.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Dennis.G

The linked instructions say to "Just raise the sail and ease the topping lift as you normally would".

If you don't have to do this on your boat, would say that you are an exception and not the rule.

I think it really depends on whether you have a solid vang or whether the boom is only being supported by the topping lift (it says that something in the preachy "direction" that don't really help a lot).

But on the orginal photos I would say that the lines on that boat's dutchman are not run/installed correctly.