Releasing Sheets from Self-Tailing Winches

[E229]

Hello All,

I have just bought my first boat. It's a small IOR 1/8 ton inspired lifting fin production boat from Julian Everitt called an E-boat.

The E-boat has a reputation for sailing like a dingy (which suits me being a dingy sailor) and the class association advice that - for safety - control systems are modified accordingly.

I envisage sailing the boat single handed and with inexperienced crews so I would like the convenience of self-tailing winches, however I am concerned that should the need arise I will not be able to release head sail sheets quickly from self-tailers.

How quickly can sheets be released from self-tailing winches as compared to jamming cleats and are self tailers suitable for very light displacement boats?

Any thought advice would be much appreciated.

[Joli]

They are no problem to ease but they are not as easy to strip.

[CharlieCobra]

When tacking single handed, I usually go through this evolution.

Get three or four wraps on the windward winch with the windward sheet.
Sheet in the main.
Pull the leeward sheet out of the tailer while maintaining pressure.
Pick up the loosely wrapped windward sheet and commence the tack.
As she comes head to wind and the pressure on the headsail ceases, I flip the wraps off the old leeward winch and pull on the new leeward sheet quickly.
I center the helm while pulling light and fast on the new leeward sheet, throw the sheet in the tailer to keep the sheet from back winding out, put the winch handle in and trim. If ya time it you shouldn't need more than a couple of turns with the handle.
Trim the main, put your wraps on the new windward winch and enjoy the new tack.
I usually wrap the off sheet around the winch, to the cleat, do a single figure 8 and dress the sheet for the next tack.
Practice makes perfect....