Set Sail with Confidence: Essential Tips for Preparing Your Boat
Published: Monday, March 18, 2024 12:00 pm
Preparing to sail involves numerous tasks, including stepping the mast, attaching and raising the sails, and efficiently and swiftly setting sail.
Stepping the mast
Large sailboats typically remain in the water for long durations once launched, making the process of stepping the mast a rare occurrence. However, for boats noot kept in the water consistently, the mast may be stepped and removed frequently. It’s important to note that lightweight racing boats can sustain damage if crew weight is applied on the foredeck while the mast is stepped with the boat on its trailer and cradle. Additionally, when transporting a boat on a trailer with the mast up, it's crucial to check for overhead power lines to avoid accidents.
When stepping the mast on a small centerboard boat in the water, it's important to avoid capsizing the boat. Increased weight near the bow reduces stability. Board the boat behind the widest part. Step towards the boat’s center, avoiding standing on the gunwale. If the water depth permits, lower the centerboard. Position yourself behind the mast and straddle the centerline whenever possible. Before hoisting the sails, install the rudder and tiller.
Bending-on the mainsail
The mast and boom of most sailboats features grooves known as coves, designed to accommodate a bolt rope or slugs - small cylinders attached to the foot or luff of the sail. When attaching the mainsail, insert the bolt rope or slugs into the groove on the boom’s tack end, near the mast. Pull the clew aft, gradually working the entire foot of the sail into the groove. Secure the clew to the outhaul and the tack to the gooseneck. Apply some tension on the foot with the outhaul with final adjustments to be made when hoisting the sail. Certain masts and booms, particularly those on cruising boats, feature tracks instead of coves, where sail slides can be attached. Utilizing slugs or slides allows cruising boat skippers to lower the mainsail (keeping it attached to the mast) and fold it, accordion style, onto the boom for storage, eliminating the need to remove it after each day’s sail.
Insert the battens into the lower pockets. Before attaching the luff of the sail to the mast, carefully run your hand along the entire luff to ensure it remains untwisted. If using slugs or slides on a mast cove, install them individually, starting from the head of the sail and working downwards. Once all are in place, engage the stop in the cove to prevent them from slipping out. Avoid hoisting the sail until you're ready to set sail. On windy days, when the sails are raised while the boat is moored, flapping sails can suffer damage, and the swinging boom poses a risk of injury. When preparing to hoist, ensure the mainsheet is released and the boom is unrestricted. Check that the main halyard isn't tangled in the rigging and securely attach it to the mainsail head. If the mast features a cove for a bolt rope rather than a track, insert the bolt rope from the head of the sail into the cove. Then, hoist the mainsail while continuously guiding the sail to align with the cove's entry to prevent jams. 
Bending-on the jib
When attaching a headsail, begin by securing the tack cringle to the tack fitting. If the sail was properly stowed, the tack cringle should be the first part to emerge from the sail bag. On smaller boats, the jib is often connected to the jib-stay or headstay using plastic snap hooks or cloth tabs with metal snaps. For larger boats equipped with roller furling, utilize aluminum rods or tubes with slots to accommodate a jib bolt rope. Attach the jib hanks or snaps to the stay, working from the tack to the head. To prevent the clew from dipping into the water, straddle the sail and trap it between your legs. As you attach the hanks or snaps, run your hand along the luff to ensure each one is securely and correctly engaged.
Once you reach the head of the sail, securely fasten the jib halyard to the head cringle, ensuring it is free from any entanglements. Then, attach the jib sheets to the clew cringle. On larger boats, utilize bow lines tied near the clew instead of metal shackles and blocks, as metal fittings on flapping jib clews can pose a safety risk. It may be prudent to refrain from hoisting the jib until the boat is in motion and to lower the jib before entering a congested mooring area.
On vessels equipped with engines, consider motoring out to open water before raising the sails. Begin by hoisting the mainsail followed by the jib. It's advisable to raise the sails with the boat pointing into the wind for optimal performance.
Folding the sails
Beforestowing the sails in their bags, fold them in a manner where the creases align parallel to the direction of airflow when the sails are deployed. Creases positioned at an angle to the airflow could potentially disrupt the flow along the sail’s surface. If opting to roll the sails instead, roll them from head to foot, perpendicular to the leech, and ensure the battens remain in their respective pockets.
For boats equipped with jib roller furling systems, stow the rigged jib by rolling it up on the headstay. Before leaving the moored boat post-sailing, secure a line around the roller furled jib to prevent accidental unfurling in case of inclement weather. Fold the mainsail onto the boom, secure it with ties, and shield it from UV damage using a sail cover. During the off-season, it's essential to wash the sails with a mild, neutral soap and soft bristle brush, inspect them for any damage, and make necessary repairs. Ensure the sails are thoroughly dried before storage. Opt for a relatively calm day to facilitate drying by hoisting the sails from the masthead using a halyard. In regions with high humidity, take precautions to store the sails in a dry, well-ventilated area to prevent mildew growth.
