QUESTION REGARDING MAINSAIL ON 23.5

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BIG JON

WHILE SAILING WITH A FRIEND YESTERDAY, HE ASKED IF THE LINE THAT RUNS FROM THE TOP OF THE MAST TO THE BACK OF THE BOOM(TO HOLD THE BOOM UP) SHOULD BE CONNECTED TO THE SAIL. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE LOOPS IT COULD RUN THROUGH WHERE THE BATTENS ARE IN THE SAIL.
 
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Bill O'Donovan

Just the boom

That line is the topping lift, as you say to hold the boom up. Any rivet holes in the mainsail are for reefing down in a heavy wind. Other lines are deployed for that. Tip: don't let the end of the topping lift get away from you, lest it zoom up the mast out of reach. Some people keep it attached at the back of the boom and release at the other end, where it can be tied off to a cleat on the mast.
 
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Pete

Reefing lines

It sounds like you don't have any reefing lines set in your mainsail,which is ok for the size boat you have. You should however get familiar with their use and how to set them for strong winds to reduce your main sail area. I had a Mac26X on which I installed a block on the boom towards the aft end and a cleat forward on the boom. The reefing line was run and ready to use if conditions warranted it. Hope this helps some. We are not too far north of you,just above Jupiter. Pete & Crystal H280 Eastern Sky-Hobe Sound, Fl. e-mail svmanido@cs.com
 
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Henry Scurlock

Keep the rope away from the 'loops'

Those 'loops' at the back of the batten pockets are what holds the battens in. One end of the loop is sewn fast to the sail, the other has a velcro closure. Should the rope (topping lift) snag the velcro end of the loop, you may well sacrifice a batten to Neptune.
 
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BIG JON

Thanks Henry for your response

I finally found somebody that understands me! We may both be from neptune. I thaught I was correct, but my friend 'Mr Airline Pilot' told me I wasn't.
 
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Rick Webb

Keeping Them Closed is not Enough

There are a number of posts in the archives about losing battens. I put a hole in the end of each batten and tied them to the pocket cover on the sail. It is amazing how far these things go when they let loose from the sail.
 
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Henry Scurlock

Big Jon, it's all in knowing the perils...

My '93 H19 has the same sail setup as the 23.5, so I've made these errors in judgement myself. To help avoid this problem I have shortened the topping lift by about a foot and added a block at the lower end. A control line has been rigged from the end of the boom, through the block, through the boom and is controlled from the mast base (really it is led back to the cockpit). This allows me to remove tension from the topping lift while sailing so it does not interfere with the batten pockets or sail shape.
 
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BIG JON

REEFING THE MAIN SAIL QUESTIONS 23.5

I HAVN'T REEFED MY MAIN YET, SO IM NOT POSITIVE ON HOW TO DO IT. I HAVE A 93 23.5 AND THE MAIN SAIL HAS ONE REEF POINT ON IT. THE LINE TO REEF THE MAIN IS ALREADY INSTALLED IN THE BOOM AND IS CURRENTLY JUST KIND OF HANGING THERE. I SUPPOSE YOU TAKE THE END AT THE AFT END OF THE BOOM AND RUN IT THROUGH THE REEFING EYELET IN THE MAIN SAIL HOWEVER, WHERE DO YOU THEN TIE THE LINE OFF? AND WHAT DO I DO WITH THE OTHER LOOSE END OF THE LINE AT THE CONNECTION TO THE BOOM AND THE MAST? IVE SEEN SOME PICTURES IN MAGAZINES AND IT SEEMS THAT MOST PEOPLE HAVE THE LINE RUN THROUGH THE REEF POINT ON THE SAIL AND READY TO REEF ON SHORT NOTICE. CAN ANYBODY TELL ME HOW TO BE PREPARED FOR THIS AND HOW TO REEF THE MAIN WHEN NEEDED. THANK YOU
 
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