For those skippers out there who still run their own main, how do you stop it from washing overboard?
Dave

wrap it several times around both feet....that seems to do the trick ....

sorry...work is killing me today.

I bite down on some of the slack when its bothering me.

I know its a bad habit... I've had it ever since I've sailed.

Isn't that the crew's job? ......least that's what I keep getting barked at for not doing on a consistent basis.
Come to think of it, isn't *everything* the crew's job?

That said, why does the skipper always get the bigger trophy?

Tracie

[quote]Isn't that the crew's job? ...... Come to think of it, isn't *everything* the crew's job?[quote]

You're right, Tracie That's why in the past year I decided just to give the whole responsibility for the mainsheet to the crew, trimming and all. Let's see, crew now takes care of jib, main, downhaul, rotation, barberhaulers, boards . . . .

to continue Kevin's list....

...lunch, beer distribution, blame, beach wheels, etc. Besides, steering is an important and thankless job!

My crew makes sure the sheet doesn't go out the back.

I have had trouble with waves washing the main sheet over the back whilst going downwind with kite, traveller center and main cleated. This can cause a very worrying situation when it tangles around rudders or tiller extension. Aslo has un cleated the main risking the mast.

I now lay my leg over it whilst sitting on the back beam or hold the traveler when trapping.

A couple collegiate sailors I know had the "prickly" side of velcro sewn onto the shoulder patches of their life jackets. With a fuzzy or worn line, it sticks right on there, and as an added bonus, you can scratch your face even with both hands full.

Oneday we'll all revolt. Then you'll be sorry.
Muhh-ha hahahaha

Tracie

Looks like a hidden potential for manufacturers of A-class boats

For the benefit of novice sailors and for crews who do not know why the skipper is always yelling to get the mainsheet back on deck, would somebody like to explain WHY it is so important that the sheet not go out the back of the boat? (Besides the possibility of it getting wrapped around the rudder.)

It can uncleat itself in this fashion.

It can get caught on something in the water.

It slows the boat down.

It puts the sheet out of reach of the skipper in the case he needs to blow it.

I could name others. Did I pass?

A trick that works for me (fyi... I also have the hook velcro at the back of the tramp)

I have a mountaineering grade caribiner that I run the main sheet through. The carabiner is then attached to a high quality snap shackle that is attached to my harness. The mainsheet follows me hands free in hectic or crash conditions and also acts as a safety line if I were to get washed overboard...the mainsheet sheets in as I get towed/trolled and the boat capsizes instead of sailing away...if in trouble or hooked up just pull the lanyard on the snap shackle and the caribiner and main are free to go.

That's a little something that I have added as a safety and control feature for distance racing.

Fast and safe sailing,

Jim Stone

who will hold the tiller while the skipper pulls the kite up.

Use your imagination....

Tracie

Rick has always held his own mainsheet, but my job as crew was to make sure the sheet stayed on deck. He explained to me that the reason he gets so frantic when the sheet washes out the back is that the pressure can be so great (water pulling the sheet) that he would not be able to release the mainsheet and let it out, if necessary.

Ouch That sounds painfull.

I use a continuous mainsheet/traveler line, as do most.

I put the slack after my sheeting hand, inbetween my two largest toes, even have O'Neill booties, with a slit there as well fro the cold days.

Never washes over board.