I am having a bit of disagreement with a fellow sailor over what to do with the halyard once the sail is up and the halyard tied off. On small dinghy sailboats such as Laser 2s, 420s of FJs, once the sail is up and the halyard is cleated, do you think the line should be coiled and left in a secure place or coiled and hitched around something such as a diamond stay. It seems to me that once cleated off, the halyard should be coiled and left easily accessible (obviously tucked in some where such as through the diamond stay) though out of the way, in case the sail needs to be lowered quickly. The other argument is that hitching the coiled halyard will hold the sail up even if the halyard becomes uncleated. Personally, I'd rather rung the MINOR risk of having my sail come down a few feet (we aren't racing, just sailing around in moderate conditions) than not be able to lower the sail quickly should the need arise. I think it is the same as with anchor/rode on smaller vessels. The anchor should be secured while underway but the rode should be loosely coiled and not hitched or tangled should you need to drop the anchor quickly in an emergency. What do you think?
what to do with halyard
- Thread starter sam20916
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We were trained on one design to just let the
halyard run down to the cabin floor out of the cockpit. Never to coil it or secure it in any other way. Worked well for me on short sails ... but on long sails it gets in the way unless it is somewhat contained with the working end on top. Vic "Seven"
halyard run down to the cabin floor out of the cockpit. Never to coil it or secure it in any other way. Worked well for me on short sails ... but on long sails it gets in the way unless it is somewhat contained with the working end on top. Vic "Seven"
It's a thing of personal preference.
I have never been in a situation where a coiled and hitched halyard impeded a quick lowering of the sails. Things don't happen fast in a sailboat. Perhaps in a dingui which may be prone to capsizing it may be more of a safety issue but on a keel boat I just don't see the urgency. The problem with loose lines in the cockpit is that someone may step on them and loose their footing. If I feel I may be ready to reef I may release the halyard prior to heaving-to. It is a matter of being alert and planning your moves ahead that takes the urgency out of situations.
I have never been in a situation where a coiled and hitched halyard impeded a quick lowering of the sails. Things don't happen fast in a sailboat. Perhaps in a dingui which may be prone to capsizing it may be more of a safety issue but on a keel boat I just don't see the urgency. The problem with loose lines in the cockpit is that someone may step on them and loose their footing. If I feel I may be ready to reef I may release the halyard prior to heaving-to. It is a matter of being alert and planning your moves ahead that takes the urgency out of situations.
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