Pulling the sails for the winter?

[Bob S]

this is our last weekend on the boat before pulling her for the season. I am worried about dropping the sails. I have never done this. My only concern is wind. I'm hoping for a calm day Saturday or Sunday. The NOAA forcast for Buzzards Bay:
[SIZE=+1]SAT[/SIZE]
E WINDS 5 TO 10 KT...INCREASING TO 10 TO 15 KT. SEAS
1 FOOT OR LESS...THEN 2 TO 3 FT IN THE LATE EVENING AND
OVERNIGHT. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
Is this too windy to be dropping the sails? I'm on a mooring and will be with my wife. We are both rookies.

Bob

 

[Brian M H23]

Too windy!
I have to assume you have roller furling on both sails, for a statement like that. For hundreds of years, if it was too windy, you drop the sails! ("Reefing" is in essence, dropping the sails, but only partway)

Being that you are on a mooring (and not actively sailing), it shouldn't be hard. the nose will already be pointed into the wind. Unfurl and let the sail luff. Then, drop the halyard and pull the sail down onto the boom / into the cockpit. If it's ugly out, worry about nice, pretty folds, later. But, 5-15 knots and 0-2' seas, you will be fine.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Sail removal for winter.

Why do you have to remove the sails on the water? When my time slot came up for hauling out I checked the conditions. Too windy? Then wait for a better day. Most of the time I took the sails down because it was dry and sunny, not because of wind conditions. This is because I wanted dry grass or blacktop for laying out and folding the sails. If I took the sails off on the boat then I had to transport them across a long dock. Much shorter trip when the boat is already on the hard(or the trailer). Is there a reason they have to come off at the mooring?

 

[Seadancer2001]

The storage yards I have been in won't let us remove or install sails when were on the sticks. I find that the jib is the only one that is a challenge in the wind. just do it fast and fold later.

 

[bffatcat]

stripping boat for winter

It really dosent matter much about conditions for dropping sails on a moored boat. 1. The boat is on a mooring with the bow to the breeze. Its not going anywhere. 2. You dont have to hoist the main to remove it. Just unfurl it
remove whatever is holding the tack and whatever is holding the slides in place on the mast. These differ depending on mast make. 3. Pull the sail slides on the luff off the mast, Then pull the foot forward off the boom. 4 If the boat has roller furling your going to have to unfurl the jib to remove it. If its blowing just unfurl the jib Dont sheet it in release the halyard and let it drop on deck. If its stubborn just pull it down from the foot, up forward by the drum.
The entire take down operation is not a big deal. Im on a mooring and I took my boat down last Tuesday. The entire operation took me about 1/2 an hour
and that included removing the anchor from the bow roller. I was by myself and Im 71

 

[Bob S]

Thank you,

I guess it's first time jitters. I get hauled at a public ramp. I have to remove the sails and boom before they haul me out. There will be two trucks and we step the mast. I'm sure it will work out ok. just wasn't sure if 10-15 kt will represent any problems. I have roller furling and a full batten main. It's the jib I was concerned about. Thank you again!

Bob

 

[gweisheipl]

Bob:

I am also new to sailing and dropping the jib/genoa in the wind was intimidating for me as well. This task is not as bad as it seems and once you do it a couple of times, it will be no problem. Just let the sail luft in the wind and quickly drop the halyard and make sure you keep gathering the sail on deck so it doesn't drop into the water. Then stuff it into a sail bag, take it home, fold it and bag it for the winter.

Greg W
SlipAway

 

[Maine Sail]

Bob..

Don't sweat it you'll be fine. As others have said, and if you don't have a RF main, you don't need to hoist it to remove it.

Don't untie the genny sheets till the sail is on deck and rolled up and secured. Ask me how I know!

If you're on a dock go find a vacant mooring or anchor for a half hour and drop the sails that way..

Good luck!

 

[tweitz]

For many genoas, it is necessary that you have a line ready to attach to the shackle when you lower the genoa. You ought to scope it out and have what you need ready.

 

[Bob S]

Thank you again.

It's my turn to learn. You have all been there before.

Last spring when I put the boat in the water for the first time I had the po's brother help me rig her. In retrospect I should have hired someone. He is a power boater but know a little about sailboats. Turned out we never anchored the roller furling and , being new, I couldn't figure out why every time I pulled out the jib the furling line would wrap around the base not inside it. This happened twice, both time I had to hand wind (furl) the jib back. It was quite windy although I didn't know the wind speed for that day. I powered to the gas dock to get help. Seemed no one knew what was wrong. I used a couple of shackles to anchor it and it worked fine all season. I also got nervouis that I had forgotten to bend the cotter pin in the forward stay. That bugged me so the next morning I motored accros the bay and anchored in a well protected area and dropped the jib so I could pull up the base and look at the cotter pin. Turned out I did bend it and taped it. All that work for peace of mind. I didn't want to sail the season wondering if I might loose the forward stay. Both events happened on windy days and it can be difficult handling a sail. As stated I just have to do it quickly, bag them and worry about folding them at home.

 

[sailingdog]

Bsmith-

If you need a hand this weekend, I'll probably be down in Fairhaven... pm me and let me know.