tophatyachts.com

Hi,
Has anyone used PVC tubing on shrouds to reduce the instances of Jib sheets catching during a tack? Maybe it's my sailing technique or positioning of the jib sheet car on the track but last time I was out with a #2 headsail, the sheets got caught regularly on the front and/or middle shrouds.

Thanks, Neil

How are you tying your sheets onto your jib Neil?

Bowline; shortish tail and close to the clew ring. Out sailing today; stronger breeze seemed to help with jib tacking. For the #2 headsail, I had the sheets outside the shrouds and through both cars. The front car was set at the front end of the track.

Cheers, Neil

Have you a sheet long enough to do it in one length as this will produce a small knot at the clew?

Shaun's about to cross the bar into the Camden Haven @ 1330hours

I have one sheet, tied in a half hitch through the clew. It saves a lot of catching, but not all. I think too, that if you're cars are all the way to the front it may not be giving you the best sail shape. Plenty of articles on the web about trimming headsails.

It may also be that you're trying to bring on the headsail too early in the tack. I've found that for me, it's really imperative to wait until the sail has passed mid point before even thinking about winching on. That way the wind will push the knot past the shroud easily and rarely catches for long.

Not sure of your experience in sailing, so please don't be offended if I've told you something you already know.....

Hi Philip,
Hadn't considered having a single jib sheet. Only sailed on boats that have two. Will look into it. Thanks.

Hi Miker,
I have sailed/raced offshore for several years now on a Beneteau 36. Learned a lot but this is the first time I have had my own boat so consider myself a novice. So always open to advice and suggestions from fellow sailors. Your observation about the car position and sail shape is spot on. I need to do some more researching on line and then actually get out and try different configurations. And make some notes on what I do so that I can remember for the future. Thanks.

Do you both use one jib sheet for different size sails that you may use?

Neil

Hi Neil
when I had my Top Hat .She was set up with separate sheets for each heady [no furler] on the deck beside the track I had a marks for different car positions [waterproof marker]
I did the same while setting her up so I could get the right settings ? a bit of stuffing around .

Cheers Bear

Curryhouse wrote:Hi Philip,
Hadn't considered having a single jib sheet. Only sailed on boats that have two. Will look into it. Thanks.

Hi Miker,
I have sailed/raced offshore for several years now on a Beneteau 36. Learned a lot but this is the first time I have had my own boat so consider myself a novice. So always open to advice and suggestions from fellow sailors. Your observation about the car position and sail shape is spot on. I need to do some more researching on line and then actually get out and try different configurations. And make some notes on what I do so that I can remember for the future. Thanks.

Do you both use one jib sheet for different size sails that you may use?

Neil

Ah, see I have a furler with one headsail. I don't change it, ever. I sometimes reef it, but usually drop or reef the main first. My headsail is a #2.

One long sheet, find the exact middle, push the middle through the clew, leaving a small loop and feed the tails of both ends through the loop. If you're continually changing sails, it may be easier to have sheets on each sail.

Hi Miker,
The heady sheets are near new so don't plan to change them out any time soon. I did some more reading on-line (not a good thing sometimes) and found discussion on using sheets with eye splices and soft shackles. Youtube made it look so easy....... Anyway, after great physical effort I have done my first two eye splices in 12mm double braided rope and made a couple of soft shackles out of Dyneema. Have yet to try them yet. If of little or no benefit, I'll just continue to tie the sheets on. Have also learned about fids and have made a couple out of aluminium tube. The Dyneema was easy to work with; the double braid not so much (well, not like they show on Youtube).