12
RAISING THE MAINSAIL (continued)
Check that the boat is still head to wind and hoist the sail.
Ensure that the luff is engaged in the feeder at the bottom of
the track. It is easy to hoist the sail by pulling the halyard
straight from its exit from the top of the mast, the halyard
cleats off in the side entry cleat at the top of the mast.
The Tail is kept next to the mast by tucking the ball under the
elastic loop at the base of the mast.
TIP: Check the wear on the halyard regularly, particularly
where it goes over the masthead sheave. You can prevent
excessive wear by moving the knot at the head every
so often by adding additional overhand knots further
and further down the halyard. When you have done
this a few times you will have to trim the excess
knotted line to save windage.
TIP: When sailing upwind you will nearly always have the
outhaul pulled quite tight but you may wish to loosen it for
the downwind legs. You can pre-set the "off" position by
tying a large knot (or use a ball) about an inch from the
cleat when the foot is pulled tight. This means you simply
have to uncleat at the windward mark and it will be in
about the right place for downwind sailing. Remember to
pull it back on before rounding the leeward mark!
