Main Halyard gets snagged

[Mark Nooney]

Hi all,
I am having an issue with the main halyard snagging on the spreaders
prior to raising the sail.

The halyard is turned into the cockpit and so we set the shackle into the headboard return to the cockpit and head out. I tighten the halyard and tie it off - ready for raising the sails. With the sail still in ties, the luff can slide up and down putting slack into the halyard. Thus, getting snagged on the spreaders.

So is there a solution that would keep the headboard down while heading out
and then be able to release when we start raising the main without leaving the cockpit?

Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks
Mark
Dream Too

 

[justsomeguy]

Maybe wait until it's time to raise sails before one of you clips on the shackle?

 

[Tom J]

I do the same thing you do, but I take all of the slack out of the halyard. A small portion of the main will lift, until the first sail tie holds it in place. Then the halyard is fairly tight, and has no place to go.

 

[Ken13559]

Or you could hold it down with a string of small/thin rubber bands. The rubber bands will break as you raise the sail.

 

[Bob D]

I hook the halyard around the reefing hook and snug it up until I'm out of the marina and ready to raise the sail. Wait until you are head to wind before unhooking it. You will have to leave the cockpit to do so.