So I've used this trick a couple of times and thought I'd pass it along
For whatever reason the halyard wanders up the mast, and a simple snare might help you get it back without a boson chair and willing climber.
Well, IF there is another available halyard handy.
Using my spinnaker halyard I make a simple snare (slipknot) with a large loop. Make sure the knot tightens when hauled up and closes the loop when pulled down.
Bend another line to the lower end of the knot, as a downhaul (I use the other end of the halyard) and raise the snare so the loop is near the wayward halyard. You might have to pull it aft around the spreaders for the mail halyard.
Using the downhaul, maneuver the snare to capture the halyard.
You might need to rock the boat to swing the end into the snare.
When you wriggle the loop over the halyard PULL the downhaul to snare the halyard. Now just pull the wayward halyard back down. It can be a bit of a game, but rewarding to win.
Of course it needs an available halyard running high enough to be the snare. But any halyard will do as long as it will go higher that the target. IF it works for you, you saved a climb.
Pat NH USA
Note Added a photo
For whatever reason the halyard wanders up the mast, and a simple snare might help you get it back without a boson chair and willing climber.
Well, IF there is another available halyard handy.
Using my spinnaker halyard I make a simple snare (slipknot) with a large loop. Make sure the knot tightens when hauled up and closes the loop when pulled down.
Bend another line to the lower end of the knot, as a downhaul (I use the other end of the halyard) and raise the snare so the loop is near the wayward halyard. You might have to pull it aft around the spreaders for the mail halyard.
Using the downhaul, maneuver the snare to capture the halyard.
You might need to rock the boat to swing the end into the snare.
When you wriggle the loop over the halyard PULL the downhaul to snare the halyard. Now just pull the wayward halyard back down. It can be a bit of a game, but rewarding to win.
Of course it needs an available halyard running high enough to be the snare. But any halyard will do as long as it will go higher that the target. IF it works for you, you saved a climb.
Pat NH USA
Note Added a photo
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