trimming the sails on a ketch

[Jerry]

I have always owned & sailed sloop rigged boats. I now have a ketch. In what order do you trim the sails? I bought the boat in November & haven't had a chance to sail her other than the trip from Baltimore, MD to Deltaville, VA to bring her home. There are 43 more days until spring & probably less days than that before I do the spring commission thing. By the way, I have a 1973 Ericson for sale if anyone is interested.
Thanks for any advice on the ketch question.
Jerry

[AnchorageGuy]

Jerry, You can trim the sails any way you like. We have lived aboard and cruised Sea Trek, our Mariner 40 ketch for 14 years. So here is what WE do. Most of the time the mizzen goes up while we are still at anchor before the hook comes up. Obviously you can't do this at the dock. If we are at the dock we leave, turn to wind and then raise the mizzen. This keeps the boat head to wind. Next comes the main since it also needs to come up head to wind and then finally the head sail after we have dropped off the wind a bit. In doing the actual adjustments, first the headsail, then the main and finally the mizzen. Now that is how WE do. It doesn't matter if others think the order is incorrect, it is our comfort level and what we have found that works well for our boat. Have fun and don't be afraid to experiment with different sail configurations until you have worked out your comfort level. For instance our headsail and mizzen are all we use in winds over 20 with the wind from a close reach aft. But close hauled we use the main and headsail. The mizzen is useless dead down wind or close to it. So many times you will be sailing as a sloop. Hope this helps. Chuck

[BC Mike]

I have not sailed on a Ketch, but I agree with what was just said. Start at the front and work your way back when setting sails.
Each sail going aft will need to be in a bit more than the one in front. Sail Power by Wallace Ross has more than we need to know about trimming sails.
Michael

[Jerry]

Thanks Chuck.
I have an Island Trader 37 which I believe is quite similar to your Mariner 40.

[AnchorageGuy]

Jerry, Yeah kinda sorta but in looks only.