Good thread. Line laying about can also be a problem.
Thoughts here on the forum about keeping lines coiled, and squared away, and out of the way when possible is good idea.
On the bare
boat charters, and some privately owned sailing vessels,
Running
rigging lines, are individually run back to the
cockpit thru clutches on the coach roof. This can result in confusing tangles of un-made up lines piled in a sound mess .
Free up up the lines that are going to be use, and coil them, ready for action. The others that are not going to be used, coil , finish with a C
gasket, and lay them up on the
cabin top, tidy and out of the way. They can be located and ready in short order.
The running
rigging lines are coiled and ready.
Main sheet is coiled and looped over its winch, ready to run, or haul in.
Jib Sheets, are also long coiled and lay ready for use, with a
single loop run thru the coil and layed over the winch. The sheet can be freed, and ready run or sheet in very quickly. No mess in the cockpit.
Might have extra tail available for the traveler adjustments, for trim and coming about.
In other words, the decks are clear of any lines lose line. No tangiing up in feet, no tripping , no sprained ankles, or taking up seating room on the cockpit
cushions..
Also, lines attached to the
mast, or boom, or
boom vang, coiled and secured. No
line coming free, sliding over the rail, into the
water and possibly fouling the prop.
Peace and quiet.
Halyards : Might bring extra line to tie them off to the shrouds, when in harbor , so they do not clang,and ping against the
mast. Thoughtful of ther neighbors and more quiet for the crew well.
Very Good info from your instructors and the tips from this forum on handling sheets, and keeping fingers and thumbs attached to the body. Not wrapping fingers between the winch and the
jib sheet is a good plan . I have seen the results of that, and the lady was a professional pianist. Two fingers...gone.
One last thought, extra line of different diameters can come in very handy on
a sailing vessel. Rigging preventers, additional reefing iine, extra sail ties, etc.
Racing crews may have different procedures on some of these ideas, the above is from
a cruising stand point.