7

Attaching the Sails

Before you start on the water you need to attach your sails.  Since most people sail with the "regular" sloop rig, I'll be describing only this one.  However, when you learn it, it will be easy to attach almost any sail, because most work in more or less the same fashion.

The first thing to know about attaching the sails, is to learn the names of the parts of sails.  Study the following pictures for a while, and then continue on with the lesson.

Attaching the mainsail

1. Feed the clew into the groove of the boom.

2. Push the sail in until the whole foot is in place.

3. Secure the sail with the tack pin.

4. Attach the clew to the outhaul to keep the foot tense.

5. Feed the head into the groove of the mast (the luff groove) (or into the slot - the luff will be either finished with a boltrope or slugs).

6. Attach the halyard to the head with a shackle.

Now you are ready to raise the mainsail with the halyard.

Attaching the jib (genoa)

1. Attach the sheets to the clew.  If there is no shackle to do this, you should use the bowline knot.

2. Attach the tack to the tack hook or a shackle on the deck at the bow.

3. Attach the luff of the sail to the forestay (you will most likely be using hanks, but you might also have to feed the lufftape into the foil).

4. Attach the head of the sail to the jib halyard with a shackle.

5. Lead the sheets on both sides to the cockpit, feeding them through the fairlead on each side.

6. Remember to tie the figure 8 knot at the end of the sheet, to prevent it from slipping back through the fairlead.

7. Lead the sheet around the winch.

Now you are also ready to raise the jib or genoa with the halyard.

Lesson 8: "Waves"

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