[Public-list] Lazyjacks

[Gordon Laco]

Hi there - 

Rather than lazy jacks, we use a technique to control the mains'l when
single or short handed that goes as follows...

When ready to dump the main, we ease the halyard while hauling in on the
clew line of the first reef.  We don't snug it tight, just enough to make a
trough of the bunt of the sail up to the first reef.  It is then really easy
to let the rest of the main fall (with some help pulling on the luff) into
the trough.  To help guide the sail in, when standing at the halyard at the
mast you grab the tack end of the first reef as it goes by and hold it out
opening the trough and giving it a toss now and again to flip the sail in.

 When it is all down, you can roll the sail onto the top of the boom.  The
trough is held up at the outboard end by the reef line - the effect is as if
you have a guy there holding it while you get the inboard gaskets on.
Another good thing is that the roll you end up with has a smooth skin of
sail over it - looks nice and there is nothing for the wind to pluck at if
you are doing this at sea in bad weather.

Don't forget to ease the reef line after the gaskets are all on...other wise
you will forget it is snugged up a little and when you go to raise the main
again you will wonder why it won't go up...

When sailing with a full crew, instead of using the reef line  we use a
person to grasp the bight of the reef line were it doubles on itself at the
reef grommet and pull toward the end of the boom, just like the reefing line
would.  That makes the trough.

That system works just as well as lazy jacks.

Cheers - Gord (can't wait for spring!) #426 Suprise


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