Ok I keep hearing everyone saying do not cleat the mainsheet up wind. This weekend was the first time I had crew in big winds and was able to let him play with the main sheet. I have not been able to coordinate solo playing the main and the tiller from the trap in much wind. Guess i need to hit the gym more or go to a 10-1 system, cause even my crew who is in good shape had to use his legs to sheet the main in a lot, something I do not have the coordnation to do while driving. But even when the sheet was in I found it better for me to just steer the boat through the gust and lulls rather then ease the sheet since this seemed to drop the hull fast and teabag a lot, even with minimum sheet release I thought.
Well maybe I just need to hit the gym and some steroids, but I am unsure of how to play the sheet correctly especially solo. Any suggestion?

Jody,

I have a 7:1 mainsheet, sail single handed and do the following

1, If light and not wiring, I may cleat the mainsail now and then, but generally it is out of the cleat unless the kite is up (and not always then).

2, As soon as there is some tension in the mainsheet and it's possible to flip the boat over (so a few kts of wind) I NEVER cleat the mainsail for long. If not wiring, but close to; I might cleat for a second or 2 while I do something else, but this will be for the odd second.

3, As soon as on the wire, the mainsheet never goes into the cleat by accident; I have the cleat set high so I cannot accidently put it in EVER. If I need to change something else like the Downhaul or mast rotation, I will put the mainsheet into my rear hand and tuck the tiller extension under my shoulder - this also allows SOME steering, but takes some practice.

4, In more wind if I need to pull the mainsheet with both hands, I will again tuck the tiller under my arm for a moment or two.



If you find you are tea-bagging a lot, it may be that you do not have enough downhaul on and so you have a sail that is too well powered up and so you cannot sheet it in hard enough. I find (usually) that letting out 200 to 400mm of mainsheet is enough for all but the biggest gusts.

In addition there is a teamwork element in there, as well as knowing the boat.

When sailing two-up on the Spitfire, I would tell the crew (young teens) that they are responsible for ride height, while I am responsible for direction. We never tried to coordinate our actions, but just 'let it happen'. I have to thank John Pierce for this - it worked a treat, practically stopped us capsizing, and allowed to sail comfortably in silly winds.

Now I am sailing the Shadow, singlehanded, I'm adjusting slowly to the lack of a voice operated downhaul and rotation control system... and beefing up the muscles in the hope I can leave the main uncleated too!

I find Scooby's description of steering with the tiller under the arm, while trimming the main, and tweaking the downhaul / rotation just too challenging for words! I'd be in the drink in no time like that.

PS - since taking over the mainsheet again, I have concluded that it is definately faster to play it, rather than luff up, in gusts.

I have a 7:1 main as well and that is not enough to sail the main out of the hand (at force 5).
If I can't would the problem be that the main isn't flat enough? Although I have the impression the main is fine.

When it blows I haven't started changing diamond tension and spreader rake. At our club the Infusions have a rule according to the wind and crew weight (spreader rake is changed according to crew weight, diamond tension is changed according to the wind force). The put a little measuring machine that says the kg of tension on the diamond).
Anyone with a alu wingmast that adjusts the diamond and can share some figures?

Gill

I also sail with a 7:1 and have no problem in higher wind strengths.

You just need to grow some muscles little boy!! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The next question: do you wrap the rope around your hand? One of the very first things I was taught when sailing was never to do this, and it's one of those things that's stuck.

I find that I can sheet single handed when I'm single handing, but need both hands when sailing 2-up, but the reason for using 2 hands is more about gripping the rope than strength to pull it.

Paul

Paul,

I wrap main sheet around my hand several times & just flick off the required loops when throwing sheet. Personally i think you just need to be mindfull of this fact & be ready to flick instantly.?

On the longer races, I find the wrapping tends to get painful & then reset a suitable position & number of wraps around the hand. Just my 2 cents worth.
Who told you to never wrap around your hand.?

I've been told by some people that wrapping crushes your hands and can do damage. I do wrap somethimes (usually when tired) and it does hurt after a while.

That is why it so important to have a pair of good gloves, if you have no grip the sheet will slip through your hands requiring hand wrapping.
Regarding the crew holding the mainsheet, one can also try to give them the Cunningham instead.

I thought we agreed this was the way to hold a sheet:



Except for in light winds, I have always let the crew handle mainsheet and downhaul. Helm have enough to do helming the boat as well as possible. We trained and raced with crew handling the mainsheet even during tacking. Only with spi up did the helm get to handle the mainsheet. This takes some training, but it was very good for us in so many ways. As far as I know no olympic Tornado teams are doing this, so it might be rubbish <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Aaron Young, who was the F16 to catch but now sails a T holds his mainsheet with his teeth. I did try this and now enjoy soup rather than steak.

Recommended by the dentists association??

Holding the sheet in your teeth can be OK if it is cleated, otherwise.. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Do you mainsheet holders set the ratchet 'on', on the mainsheet blocks?

The guy I used to crew for, backed up by his wife (a doctor), who assured me that the potential crush injuries were bad news.

Paul

Ratchet definately "ON"!

I know my hands hurt quite a bit for several days, after a day or two of trimming in big wind. I have to wrap the sheet around my hand at least once or twice to get a tight enough grip to trim it in hard when it's blowing, sailing Uni or with crew not used to sheeting the main. I usually clete it between puffs to get some blood flow back into my hand!

At the Tradewinds regatta in big wind, Andi was steering while I was trimming with both hands, and still I had to wrap it to get a good enough grip, and I wear rubber gloves for a better grip than wet leather goves gives me.

On my beach beater Prindle, I use a much fatter, softer fuzzy mainsheet and it is much easier to grip as it is fatter, and softer, but the new mainsheets are so small diameter and have a slick cover, I think you really need to wrap them around your hand for a good grip when they are wet.

Paul,

There would be no doubt the crush potential is there & our sailing future would be certainly affected....can you sheet in tight without a wrap of sheet around your hand.? I am a big framed person & i have to wrap.

But then again there shouldn't be any complaints as Geert obviously manages to sheet & steer with one hand.

Rachets allways on....
<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I find sheeting is harder on my elbows that my hands. Similar to tennis elbow I guess.