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How to Raise a Mainsail Safely

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  • 1). Uncover the mainsail and store the cover below decks or in a lazerette.

  • 2). Determine which halyard is used for the mainsail. Usually sailboats are rigged with the main halyard on the starboard side and the jib halyard to port.

  • 3). Open the shackle and free the main halyard from wherever it is stored, usually on the life lines or at the end of the boom.

  • 4). Walk the halyard to the mast.

  • 5). Verify that your halyard is free to run clear of the spreaders and shrouds, not wrapped with another halyard.

  • 6). Attach the halyard shackle securely to the head of your sail. Check to see that it is correctly fastened.

  • 7


    Loosen the main sheet. The main sheet is the line that controls the lateral movement of the main sail.

  • 8


    Head the boat into the eye of the wind. This will keep the mainsail fluttering amidships and prevent any danger of being knocked overboard by a loose boom.

  • 9). Stand facing the mast with a wide stance to give you proper balance and leverage.

  • 10

    Hold the halyard with one hand above the other.

  • 11


    Pull downward on the halyard using your arms--hand over hand--until the main sail is up.

  • 12

    Repeat the downward pulls until your sail is all the way to the top of the mast.

  • 13

    Use a winch to pull the main snugly into position so that there are no wrinkles along the mast.

  • 14

    Furl the halyard and hang it from the cleat on the mast. Unfurled halyards have a tendency to fall overboard and wrap around propellers at inconvenient times.

  • 15

    Walk back to the cockpit, turn the boat away from the eye of the wind and haul in on the main sheet until the sail fills with wind.

  • 16

    Instruct the person on the helm that you are ready to sail.

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