[Rhodes22-list] Retracting IMF

[Bill Effros]

Bud,

I like them on the boom.

Bill Effros

Bud wrote:
> Bill,
>  that's a good explanation.  Have you ever given any thought on how 
> the IMF lines could be run and cleated
> to somewhere other than out on the boom?
>
> -Bud
>
>
> Bill Effros wrote:
>
>> Slim,
>>
>> OK, now we're on the same page.
>>
>> Like you, the only time it's harder than easy for me is when the wind 
>> has picked up relative to the amount of main sail I have out, forcing 
>> me to let out the main to a point where the aft boom cleat can't be 
>> reached while standing on floor of the cockpit.
>>
>> Part of your solution has been to cleat the lines on the mid boom 
>> cleat, however that forces you to leave the tiller.  I tried that 
>> approach, but have subsequently moved the lines back to the aft boom 
>> cleat.  I found it was dangerous to wrestle with the boom when it had 
>> too much sail on it, I wasn't holding onto the tiller, and I was 
>> leaning toward the leeward side of the boat.
>>
>> If the lines are cleated aft, you are forced to bring the sail in 
>> over the cockpit (which, just incidentally, makes the sail furl on 
>> the tube more easily and more cleanly.)  The only ways you can bring 
>> the sail over the cockpit, if it is not already there, is by sailing 
>> higher into the wind, while coming about, or in a hove-to situation.  
>> In that order.
>>
>> If the boom is over the water and you want to reduce the main sail, 
>> first retract the genny so that it is around 100%.  No problem 
>> there--I'm sure you know how to do that without snarling the 
>> furler--(hint to newbies--keep tension on both lines.)  The main sail 
>> is 1/2 the size of the 175 genny, so this will significantly depower 
>> the boat, and may allow you to bring in the main over the cockpit 
>> depending on how far your mainsail must be adjusted.  If so, release 
>> the lines from the aft cleat and adjust at reduced speed on the same 
>> course.
>>
>> If you still can't pull in your main, steer higher into the wind 
>> until you can, and then fall off again after making the adjustment in 
>> relatively calm air.  If you steer too high, and wish to come about, 
>> you can catch the boom and make your adjustment while the boom 
>> remains on the favored side, usually Starboard, before releasing the 
>> genny sheet and completing the tack.   If you can't do this fast 
>> enough, or don't want to come about, don't release the genny sheet, 
>> which will automatically leave you hove-to.  Using the tiller you can 
>> get the boom anywhere you want it in calm air over the cockpit.  You 
>> will have as much time as you need to adjust the sail, tiller between 
>> legs, standing in the center of the cockpit, aft, approximately over 
>> the table socket.
>>
>> You can sail out of being hove-to on either a port or starboard 
>> tack.  Steer in the direction you wish to go.  Then release the 
>> genny, or not, depending on which tack you want to be on.
>>
>> Bill Effros
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Slim wrote:
>>
>>> Just Plain Bill, et al,
>>>
>>> Right--lengthening the sail is never a problem and I, too try to put 
>>> up less
>>> sail than I need at first and add more later if I want.  But 
>>> sometimes I
>>> over estimate how much to use and other times the wind picks up 
>>> after I'm
>>> out there, so shortening the main in the heat of battle is something 
>>> I want
>>> to get better at.  It's especially tricky if I'm single-handing.  
>>> And, like
>>> you have said, even with others onboard I'm still single-handing, 
>>> although
>>> someone to take the helm and hold our course is a big help and not 
>>> too hard
>>> even for a novice.  I can always heave to in order to do anything 
>>> but I'd
>>> like to get better at reefing quickly while still under way.  Thanks 
>>> for the
>>> tip on moving the boom car before I haul in the reefing line.  I think
>>> that'll help. Slim
>>>
>>> On 2/18/07 10:46 AM, "Bill Effros" <bill at effros.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>  
>>>
>>>> Slim,
>>>>
>>>> I've read some of the replies.
>>>>
>>>> First, let's note you are only speaking of shortening the sail.  There
>>>> is no problem lengthening it.  Just prior to tacking, you simply 
>>>> release
>>>> the line that prevents more sail from going out, to add the amount of
>>>> sail you wish to add.  This will cause a huge belly in the sail.  
>>>> Using
>>>> the main sheet, cleat the sail so that it is above the cockpit on the
>>>> starboard side of the boat (on most boats depending on the rotation of
>>>> the IMF inside the mast).  Pause in your tack long enough to secure 
>>>> the
>>>> longer sail in it's new position on the boom, adjusting for the 
>>>> level of
>>>> sail tightness.  Finish your tack, or not, depending on where you want
>>>> to go.
>>>>
>>>> When shortening the sail you must release the line that holds the sail
>>>> out, first.  Move the car on the boom to where you want the sail to be
>>>> attached to the boom.  Again, this will cause the sail to belly out.
>>>> Then pull the sail retrieval line to get the proper sail shape.
>>>> Continue the tack, or not.
>>>>
>>>> If it's really blowing you may have to heave to in order to keep the
>>>> sail under control.
>>>>
>>>> I always start with less sail than I think I will need and then 
>>>> lengthen
>>>> it.  I always heave to when retracting sail fully at the end of the 
>>>> day
>>>> because if you learn to heave to, well, you can make the boat point 
>>>> into
>>>> the wind at any direction that makes retracting the sail work best on
>>>> your boat with your sails.  Experience.
>>>>
>>>> Bill Effros
>>>>
>>>> Slim wrote:
>>>>   
>>>>> My, my, my... Aren't we a chatty bunch today?  Ninety-some emails!
>>>>>
>>>>> Art brought up an important point about operating the IMF on a 
>>>>> port tack.  I
>>>>> do this too but only slightly off the wind for best results.  I 
>>>>> let the main
>>>>> sheet go so the sail is luffing and then it's a cinch to roll it up.
>>>>>
>>>>> Here's where I could use some help:  If the wind picks up and I 
>>>>> decide to
>>>>> shorten sail, I usually discover that I'm overpowered when on a 
>>>>> close reach.
>>>>> That's when you get heeled over too much.  That's when the wind 
>>>>> has picked
>>>>> up and there's a lot of force on the sail.  I've found it to be quite
>>>>> difficult to reef in the mail on this point of sail even if it is 
>>>>> a port
>>>>> tack and absolutely impossible on a starboard tack.
>>>>>
>>>>> So what maneuvers or what point of sail would be best to make this 
>>>>> easier?
>>>>> Must I luff up?  I don't like doing that because it's so chaotic and
>>>>> sometimes I get blown over to the other tack anyway and the 
>>>>> problem gets
>>>>> worse.  But if there's any wind in the sail at all then it's much 
>>>>> harder to
>>>>> flatten out the sail because the lines are so stressed.  At least 
>>>>> I've
>>>>> finally learned to cleat off my control lines on the cleats nearer 
>>>>> the mast
>>>>> and not the ones at the end of the boom where I can't always reach 
>>>>> them.  I
>>>>> think I've answered my own question.  You gotta luff up.  But has 
>>>>> anyone
>>>>> discovered a better procedure?
>>>>>
>>>>> Reefing in the jib under these conditions is easier.  I usually 
>>>>> wait until I
>>>>> tack and then keep the jib sheet on the now-windward side sort of 
>>>>> like a
>>>>> heave to, backwinding the main.  Then I can ease the sheet out and 
>>>>> take the
>>>>> reefing line while the jib is still full of air.
>>>>>
>>>>> __________________________________________________
>>>>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>>>
>>>>>         
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>>   
>>
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