New Sailer Jib Use

[rod1029]

Hello everyone,
This is probably going to be looked at as an odd statement,,, BUT if you do not have a furling system on your @ 25 foot boat what do you do with your Genoa? Raise and lower? Or what? If you did not realize, I am new to the sailing community, and am working on my Lancer 25, to hopefully get it on the water by no later than spring,,, So in advance I would like to know what others do with their sails when not in use....
Thanks in advance for any assistance offered.
Rod

 

[Paul Mermelstein]

That's right, you raise and lower. You can also change headsails to larger or smaller jibs or genoa depending upon wind conditions. How the headsail attaches to your forestay depends upon its design, whether with a boltrope through a slot, or "hanked on" (clips to the wire), or whatever. Should be obvious when you look at how yours works.

 

[higgs]

Assuming your Genoa is in decent shape, you should, after each use, fold it properly, bag it and stow it below until it is needed again.

If it is old and tired, then just cram it in a sail bag and stow it below.

 

[Joe]

You store it in a drawstring, nylon sail bag when not in use. The proper way to fold the headsail is to lay it out flat then, starting at the foot (the bottom), flake the sail in approximately 24 inch panels until you have the head (top corner) resting on top of the accordian folded stack. This is more easily done with two people, one one each end of the foot(bottom). Working together you mark the desired fold width with one hand and use the other to pull the subsequent section over to the foot.

You should end up with the three corners on the same side, the head in the middle. Next start at the clew end (the corner with no hanks, where you tie on the sheets) and roll or loosely fold fold up the sail and then insert the bundle into the bag leaving the corners at the top. Do not fold sharply or crease the sail. Try to make the loose fold at a different place each time so you don't develop any creases, that can accelerate the cloth breaking down. Pack the rolled up, loosely folded, sail in the bag with the corners facing upwards.

When you're ready to use the sail again, roll it out on deck with the tack up front. Hook on the tack then hank on the sail starting at the bottom making sure the pistons all open the same way. Attach the halyard, tie on the sheets with bowline knots and you're ready to hoist. The bowline is a fixed loop knot that is strong, but very easy to untie. It's a very important knot for sailing, so make sure you know how to tie it.

A lot of the sailors here that use hank on sails have installed a "jib downhaul" It's a light line you tie to the top piston and runs down to a small turning block at the base then back to the cockpit. The downhaul helps you get the sail down without going forward. Besides keeping the sail secure it also keeps the halyard quiet. Think about this simple project after you've got the boat up a running.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I hated storing the Jib in my Hunter 22 because it took up room in the small cabin when I was cruising it. I use to take a sail bag and pack it in there (leaving the jib hanked onto the forestay) and then turn the bag around and rest it in the pulpit. This worked well and the jib was stored and covered on deck. You can also buy sailbags for this.

When I was not cruising and just in my slip or on trailer then I had the jib in a bag down below.

 

[rod1029]

Thanks everyone,
I have 3 sail bags, 2 look original as they say Lancer MK IV on the side and one is labeled Genoa and a % .... the odd bag is an Airforce, and it is labeled lancer 25 main ,, So I am guessing a previous owner purchased a new main at some point in time.

I had been out on a friends 30 foot Beneteau and he had a roller furling, and since I did not see this device on or in my boat (found different things shoved in different corners and places in the boat) I was thinking of how to use the sail without the furling device.

Joe's idea on the "down haul" sounds like a good idea.....
Thanks everyone for the knowledge sharing...
Rod

 

[DeniseO30]

you can find some good sailing instructions on you tube.

 

[bffatcat]

its pretty simple

Look at the luff off the sail: its probably got hanhs ( Snaps that snap the jib on to the head stay. Hank it on one snap at a time. Oh one more thing unless its a racing sail just stuff it in the bag when your done Head first so the hanks near the botton com out of the bag and go on one on top of the other. Saves a lot of time

 

[Joe]

Look at the luff off the sail: its probably got hanhs ( Snaps that snap the jib on to the head stay. Hank it on one snap at a time. Oh one more thing unless its a racing sail just stuff it in the bag when your done Head first so the hanks near the botton com out of the bag and go on one on top of the other. Saves a lot of time

Bad advice...... unless its a nylon sail like a spinnaker, you should never "stuff" a dacron or laminated sail into the bag. That's just pure laziness and/or ignorance and you'll end up with a million cracks and creases in the sail. Your sail will look like it's been in the dirty close hamper for a week.

Whether you're racing, cruising or daysailing... whether your sails are new or 30 years old... proper sailcare is part of good seamanship. Sails are too expensive, and too important, to abuse by simply stuffing them in a bag. Even if you use a "foredeck bag", where you leave the sail hanked on and put the bag around it, you can flake the sail on deck and roll it up to minimize the creasing.

This is a good example of why a new sailor should take lessons, sailing classes or at least purchase a decent sailing manual.

 

[Mac Daddy]

They do make jib bags that enclose the sail while it's hanked on, just like the main sail covers. I'm thinking of getting one. Anybody here use one and whats the best way to fold the sail to fit in the bag?

 

[NC-C320]

Sail Bag

If you go with sail bag for attached jib/genoa, be sure that it is secured in such a way that the bag cannot sway back and forth as the boat rocks, especially if you are in a somewhat rough harbor. Otherwise, you can chafe holes in the sail bag and or sail in short order. I did this on a previous boat....detected it after damage to sail bag, but before significant damage to sail. I then went back to taking the sail down and placing it in a sail bag for storage in cabin.

 

[Joe]

jib bags

They do make jib bags that enclose the sail while it's hanked on, just like the main sail covers. I'm thinking of getting one. Anybody here use one and whats the best way to fold the sail to fit in the bag?

I think they are pretty handy when you anchor out, or at the slip daysailing for the weekend. The problem is lots of people store their headsails in them permanently, leaving them on deck year round. I can't see any benefit in that. It doesn't take that long to fold it and store it correctly. Teach your crew to do it and you spend no time at all.