Just as additional warning - I made the mistake of lubing my mainsheet blocks, thinking I was doing the right thing for any little bearings in there. While I was at it, I also sprayed the traveller, and then any other blocks I could find. I made sure the spray went into the blocks & bearings by using the nozzle tube and pointing it into suitable cracks. Swelling with pride after this episode of fettling, I plunged headlong into the wind and chop that is our estuary. Result of all this care and attention: Nightmare.

My lube spray had found its way onto the traveller and main sheets as well as greasing the tramp. I could cleat the main and traveller just long enough to get double-trapped and heave in. Any additional pressure, such as a wave, gust, or an attempt to power up, and bang the traveller let go, dumping us in the drink. We returned to shore and applied sand to the sheets (uuurrrrrgh! but what else could we do in a hurry?). They still slipped out like mad. Then we sent a delegation off to the club house to return with a beer glass full of washing up liquid, which we spread over everything. We sudded up like Santa's beard, and headed out again. Not much better. It took several more attempts, using degreaser (and meths if I remember correctly), and even a rough file edge on the sheets, to finally get some grip back into the system. This represented a total loss of three sailing days before we were safe again. The tramp seemed to get back to normal fairly quickly with degreaser.

My lesson from all this is not to lube anything! If anyone has advise of what should be lubed and when, I'd appreciate it!

Meantime, consider yourself lucky to be sailing anything at the moment - our last three weekends have been blown off (well, it is winter in the North West UK).

Cheers
Simon