Can I tighten the mainsheet while I hoist the sail?

[drewdavis]

When I need to hoist the main sail, can I tighten the main sheet so the boom doesn’t move? Otherwise the boom could swing and throw me off. I know it is not uncommon to tighten mainsheet before jibing to control the boom. It’s the same idea here.

[NiceAft]

When I need to hoist the main sail, can I tighten the main sheet so the boom doesn’t move

?

Yes.

Welcome to the MacGregor Sailors Forum. Where in NY are you located? There may be MacGregor owners nearby.

[Starscream]

When I need to hoist the main sail, can I tighten the main sheet so the boom doesn’t move? Otherwise the boom could swing and throw me off. I know it is not uncommon to tighten mainsheet before jibing to control the boom. It’s the same idea here.

Sounds like you're trying to raise the mainsail single-handed. That can be a dangerous undertaking because even if you get it up, you have to take it back down again and conditions may be worse when taking it down.

If the boat stays painted to the wind, cleating the mainsheet is fine. How to get the boat poonted to the wind is harder. You can anchor o ge the saik up, but that's a long procedure and the boat still wanders back and forth. Anchoring works for sail raising in good weather, but I've never tried it for lowering and wouldn't want to ever try it You can try to motor forward into the wind with a bungee on the wheel or tiller, but you'll only get a few seconds before the boat falls off the wind and if this happens with half a mainsail, you're in trouble on a windy day. Blue Water Yachts sells a Halyards Aft Kit for most Macs, and this is the cheapest way to make single handing reasonably safe in other than calm conditions. With sail-slug lube and a downhaul, you can get the mainsail down and locked down from the cockpit, so that you can cleat the mainsheet and wrap the sail with minimal risk. Then, the best option, but of course $$, is Autopilot. Autopilot makes the process easy and if you have a tiller-operated boat it's not insanely expensive. I used the halyard aft kit for years before switching to Autopilot, and it's night and day for workload and for risk.

[Russ]

Before you continue to respond, the user's first post traces to Ha Noi, VietNam.

[Jimmyt]

So, does Ha Noi have a neighborhood called New York? Something like China town in San Francisco?

But, for future reference by actual Mac owners/sailors, the answer is No.

Hate to disagree with Starscream and Nice Aft, because they are definitely the better (and smarter) guys.

Sheeting the boom tight while hoisting the main sail is not a good idea. You need to get the sail all the way up before tightening the main sheet so that you get the proper sail shape (no wrinkles, etc). Also, your topping lift should be slightly slack when the sail is fully hoisted. In other words, the sail will be holding the boom up, not the topping lift, when fully hoisted.

[NiceAft]

When I raise the main, I tighten my topping lift so as to raise the boom. When I do that, the slugs are not stressed at the top of the mast. They sometimes get jammed inches from the top. After I see the sail is fully raised, I then loosen the topping lift. When doing this, I also, at times, tighten the main sheet.

Jimmy, you have a roller furling main. I don’t think you need to take such measures.

[Jimmyt]

When I raise the main, I tighten my topping lift so as to raise the boom. When I do that, the slugs are not stressed at the top of the mast. They sometimes get jammed inches from the top. After I see the sail is fully raised, I then loosen the topping lift. When doing this, I also, at times, tighten the main sheet.

Jimmy, you have a roller furling main. I don’t think you need to take such measures.

If your topping lift takes the boom high enough to allow the luff to be tensioned properly without tensioning the leach, then, I would agree with you. The M comes with a fixed topping lift, so this is not an option for some owners.

Also, I have a bolt rope in lieu of slugs (another roller furling characteristic). So, you are correct. My slugs don’t get jammed.

As I said, you’re the smarter guy. Not everyone would know to raise the boom with the topping lift to a point where the main can be raised without tensioning the leach; then sheet the main tight against the topping lift; then raise the main; then relax the topping lift to sail. Or maybe I’m dumber than I thought.

[NiceAft]

If I may quote Yoda: Not so smart am I.

I spent many a day scratching my head wondering why the last few inches of raising the main was so difficult. Using the topping lift cured that.

I don’t tighten the main sheet often, but the question was, is it OK? Yes, it is. Aren’t you often quoted “your boat, your rules.”

[Jimmyt]

That’s me.

White flag raised.

[Stickinthemud57]

On my 26S I sometimes get the mainsail almost fully raised, only to run into resistance for the last foot or so. It is almost always because I forgot to slack the mainsheet.

My topping lift attaches permanently at the top of the mast, so its sole purpose is to support the boom when the sail is not raised.

I ran my halyards to the cockpit and feel safer working them from there, so +1 to that suggestion.

I raise my mainsail with the bow pointed into the wind. Otherwise the sail rubs against the stays and shrouds, making it more difficult and potentially damaging the sail.

[LordElsinore]

True. Hoisting the mainsail all the way up would be difficult with the mainsheet overly tight. Happens to me all the time

[Be Free]

When I raise the main, I tighten my topping lift so as to raise the boom. When I do that, the slugs are not stressed at the top of the mast. They sometimes get jammed inches from the top. After I see the sail is fully raised, I then loosen the topping lift. When doing this, I also, at times, tighten the main sheet.

Jimmy, you have a roller furling main. I don’t think you need to take such measures.

Ray,
You have it down exactly right. You set the topping lift to make raising the main easier, then snug the main sheet against it. After the main is raised you loosen the topping lift and finish adjusting the outhaul (if needed).

If your main halyard is not led back to the cockpit you will need to get quickly over the windward side of the cabin top and behind the mast (between the mast and the bow). Raise the main as quickly as you can. If the boat drifts too far off course you may need to belay the partially raised halyard and get back (still on the windward side) to the cockpit to get the boat pointed back into the wind. Rise and repeat as needed.

When going over the cabin top stay low, stay on the windward side, and always have a good grip on something that won't break. Do I need to remind anyone to wear your PFD?

[NiceAft]

All lines lead to the cockpit.

[Be Free]

That makes it so much easier and safer. As soon as I install a down-haul for the main I'll have collected the whole set.

[NiceAft]

The downhaul is my next goal.