Halyard Sail
Halyard Sail It's a Global Canoe Crew A world-wide community coming together.... I'm sitting here at my desk on Saturday, March 29 trying to figure out what I should say to my readers other than &...
Halyard Sail
It's a Global Canoe CrewA world-wide community coming together.... I'm sitting here at my desk on Saturday, March 29 trying to figure out what I should say to my readers other than “Thanks.” This, our third issue, has been made possible by the moral support of a lot of readers from all sorts of canoe and kayaking types, and the contributions of quite a few of you, too. So: “Thank you!” To date, we have readers in more than 52 countries. If you look at the map I have on the bottom, right of the page, and click on it, you'll see we are joined by fellow canoe and kayak sailors on every continent, save Antarctica. Readers--fellow sailors--range from New Zealand, to China, South Africa, and Micronesia, to Portugal, Germany, Great Britain and Sweden, to Columbia, Paraguay, Canada and the United States. We are--this community--a pretty big and diverse crew. You have by now noticed the addition of some advertising. As much as I'd rather win the lottery and be able to just publish this magazine, I have to generate some funds to cover costs. You all seem to understand and appreciate that, so I won't belabor the point other than to ask you to consider making your online purchases through those businesses we advertise. We get a small portion of purchases you make when you access them through Canoe Sailing Magazine, so please allow me to encourage you to spend, spend, spend! For my part, I'll be selective about what advertisers we do have and will keep the bilgewater out of the pages. To better serve you, we'll soon have a “Resources” page for all your canoe- and kayak-sailing needs. This will be the one place you need to stop by to find whatever you want, thus making Canoe Sailing Magazine your best resource, and first (and hopefully—only) place to look. I'm also working on getting some videos posted as well. In this issue we have some pretty interesting articles. We don't have a 'theme' for issues yet; we just take them as they come, and will always offer a wide range of topics in each issue. A common item of discussion is how to steer one's canoe or kayak. In Issue 2, I had a piece about my kickup, clamp-on rudder. Since then, I've had several readers inquire about how it mounts on the boat. I've addressed that in this issue, along with a discussion about using a button-and-beckett connector in place of various bronze fittings or knots used to attach sails to halyards, sheets and etc. One of the aspects of canoe sailing is how, with a little bit of thought and time, a paddling boat can be turned into a sailer, not something so easily done with other boats. To show us how a bit of ingenuity can add to our own sailing enjoyment, Dan Reiber's “Kayak Sailing Project” discusses his turning a 14' rec kayak into a sailboat, and Tord S. Eriksson continues with his Klepper project. There has been an on-going discussion (both in these pages and those of other publications) about how one can cover an open boat's deck without having to drill (yet) more holes. Tom Lewis shows us a great solution with his PVC clips in “A Simple Gunwhale Clip.” Not one (apparantly) to take retirement lightly, Keith Wellman shares his seventy mile, seven day sail along the southwest Florida coast. Keith also sent along some beautiful photos we're sure those of you who are still snowbound will enjoy! (Needle-Needle) And, of course, there's much more for you to enjoy as well. Before you go, allow me to mention that Tord, Keith and Dan are all readers who took the opportunity to share their experiences with the rest of us. I, and I'm sure, they, would like to encourage you to share your own insights, experiences and maybe just plain lies, with the rest of us. You don't have to be a gifted writer to be in these pages, just a part of the family. Contact me if you'd like to see yourself in Canoe Sailing Magazine. Thanks—Happy Sailing! About the Author Edward C. Maurer is president of The Editing Service (http://www.EditSvc.com)and provides free advice to businesses and individuals seeking help with their writing assignments and documents. |
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7 Basic Steps in Raising the Mainsail of a Sailboat for a Smooth Sailing Experience
To properly raise a sailboat's mainsail, one should be able to do the following: familiarize the parts of the sailboat;locate all the sail sheets;point the boat into the direction of the wind;release the vang sheet and other supporting parts;announce when the sail is already raised;hoist the mainsail; and; make a final check on the mainsail for creases and luffs.
It is important to master the task of raising the sailboat's mainsail properly. Once the mainsail is properly raised, your sailboat's speed capacity can be maximized. Below are the easy procedure of properly raising the mainsail for a smooth and fast sailing:
Familiarize the parts of the sailboat
Always make sure that you know or at least familiar with the sailboat's rigging mechanism. Know the important parts of the mainsail to effectively locate where the shackle and clew can be found. This is to make sure that you can properly attached all the supporting parts together before releasing the mainsail.
Locate all the sail sheets
Find all the sheets of the mainsail. Ensure that the sheets are complete for every sail. Also, locate the boat rope and halyard to easily prepare the sail for hoisting and decreasing or increasing the luff.
Point the boat into the wind direction
Point the boat in a direction where the wind directly blows over the sailboat's bow. Before releasing the sail check if the wind indicator located on the boat's mainmast is pointing forward. By doing this, raising the sail will be easier since the boat's movement is minimized.
Release the vang sheet and other supporting parts
Release the vang that hold's down the boom closer to the deck. This will make raising the sail easier. Also release the cunningham which pulls the sail downward the mast.
Announce when the sail is already raised
Always let everyone know that you are raising the sail. This is to ensure safety and to avoid any accidents while raising the sail. Remind the people in the sailboat to move away from the boom while the sail is being raise.
Hoist the mainsail
Confirm if everybody is on their position before giving the signal of raising the mainsail. Use a crank to pull the haylard for larger sailboats, while a cleat can be used in pulling the halyard for smaller boats. Slowly hoist the mainsail and check the sail slugs every time it is hard to hoist the sail. Ensure that the haylard is not jammed with anything and slowly pull it downward until the luff is tightened.
Make a final check on the mainsail for creases and luffs
Keep on raising the sail until its tip reaches the mast. Check for creases and luffs and fix it to properly unroll the sail. When the mainsail is properly hoisted, the halyard can already be cleated off. You can now start the boat to sail away.
Always follow the directions carefully,especially when hoisting the mainsail. Following these simple procedures will help you get ready for a smooth sailing journey.
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