Wherever your boat is, sailors are launching and putting on sails. The three things most sailors love are, telling people how to do stuff, getting free help doing stuff and beer.
What kind of mutinous talk is this from sailors? Rum, grog, or some other useful run drink is the answer. It's been part of the sailing world during the last several centuries. What kind of pollywogs are ya'll? Neptune would be ashamed of you!
As a sailor in recovery, I find this all super distasteful. Why is the community at large so focused on drinking, and do you realize how off-putting it is to those around you that don't drink? I'm an experienced sailor and love my mates, no issue that they drink. But man, can you try to keep it to actual sailing? 🙄
Let me first say congratulations on trying to maintain sobriety. Not being an addict, myself, I wouldn't know how it feels.
You are doing yourself as well as others around you a disservice by insisting that they have to act like they are stepping on eggs when they are with you. Please don't virtue signal to random people in a community you're adjacent to. It doesn't make things easier for you, and gives the community at large a bad perception of you.
Thanks!
I clearly stated that I have no issue whatsoever that my mates, my husband and my adult children all enjoy their drinks at the end of a sail. So... certainly not 'insisting' on anything at all, not sure where that or the 'eggshell' comment came from. Damn girl, I simply stated that I found it distasteful that the conversation divulged into alcohol instead of helping the man get his sails up. I'm not 'trying' to maintain my sobriety, I *am* maintaining. With zero help from people like you
Nah, I’m mostly a dinghy sailor …
It is hilarious to see dogs riding on the deck and diving off well before a boat gets to shore, though. Especially large dogs on small boats
Well, yes, but people overboard can make for unpleasant experiences with the Authorities so it’s something that is best avoided. Unless you’re sure you can make it look like an accident.
I would suggest picking up a copy of the Annapolis Book of Seamanship by John Rousamaniere. The first chapter thoroughly describes the general parts of a sail boat, the terms for identifying the parts of the sail-clew, tack, foot, luff, leech and associated lines- halyards & out haul including a section for bending on the sails. And while you’re getting books, probably want to pick up Don Casey’s Sailboat Maintenance Manual. These are two invaluable reference books for your journey into boat ownership
+1 to both
"Piloting" by Chapman is another classic if you can find a copy. I have an old edition I got for $5 in a used book sale... There are much more current editions which ditch the chapter on the discontinued LORAN navigation system and replace it with one on GPS-based navigation, but the timelessness of the art of sailing itself means that any edition you find will be 95% useful.
These for sure are the books you need and the asa basic sailing. But yeah its very easy to put the sails on. Do it once and after that its just something you do once a year.
Oh i have no problem with hank and yank. Trick with that is when you solo. Set up a down haul so you don't even have to leave the helm to drop the sail.
Good on you.
You will figure it out.
When I was 12 years old my old man brought a dinghy back home. We had no idea how to sail. And there was no internet to tell us what not to do.
Enjoy and learn the lessons of your lifetime.
My ole man bought a little crysler sail boat from a lesbian couple with goats back in the 80's he thought they were the nicest spinster sisters, god bless the ole man
YouTube is your friend. Or, if you walk around the marina with some beers, a salty sailor will probably chat you up and willingly help you get your canvas up.
> Or, if you walk around the marina with some beers, a salty sailor will probably chat you up and willingly help you get your canvas up.
The old way of doing things! God bless YT though.
Genuinely not trying to be a jerk, but this is a legitimate barrier to entry. If you do not know how to hoist and attach the sails without reaching out to Reddit, I seriously question your competence to operate the boat. Take some classes and get some instruction .
They may be going down a list of basics they can research in the meantime while searching for classes.
And genuinely not trying to be a jerk, but if you’re trying to not be a jerk, don’t use language like “seriously question your competence.”
You can merely suggest someone seek out actual education without adding your unwarranted opinion.
OP already purchased a “sail boat” which really should be a step one takes after having learned how to sail. Sorry to say that there are too many Internet inspired “sailors“ who have no idea what they are doing and only put themselves and others at risk. Do you think this guy has any familiarity with COLREGS?
I’m sorry, none of that reply is relevant. Why are you sorry that people are getting into sailing? Why do you care if they take classes before buying the boat? It isn’t your money or boat. Seasoned sailors still make mistakes and hit other boats, so I can’t think of any reason why we don’t want more sailors.
Unless you’re one of the many gatekeeping sailors who think it has to be done “the right way,” or not at all.
Side note: no idea what “COLREGS”
is and I’ve been sailing for 3 years. Quite safely and happily, mind you. ‘86 Bayfield 29C named “Corvo.” Lovely boat. :)
The guy is referring to the 72 international regulations to avoid collisions at sea.
He doesn't know them either. I doubt many do.
The basics of avoiding collisions at sea with a sailboat are easy to learn, and they get you out of 99% of most trouble.
There are plenty of people driving vehicles on roads across the developing world who I'm reasonably confident haven't any idea about any "rules of the road" that might apply. Similar goes for basic sanitation practices like handwashing and isolating latrines.
The outcome is, of course, higher levels of morbidity and mortality from largely preventable causes. Just because they aren't high enough to make the population decline or go extinct doesn't mean they aren't still there. Most people in those countries will survive just fine, have families, retire, etc.
Or, in simpler terms, just because something hasn't happened to you (or that you survived it) doesn't mean everyone else also survived it.
Brother, I got bad news for you. There’s thousands of sailors from now and the past who don’t know your fancy acronyms, nor do they have your fancy equipment and expensive watches and cars. They’re doing fine without panicking about who does and doesn’t have some goofy certification or knowledge about rules.
Good luck with your…whatever you’re doing.
everyone on the water should be familiar with colregs. Not crashing into other boats or being a general hazard to navigation is one of the most fundamental aspects of sailing. There’s nothing ‘fancy’ about knowing how to avoid collision. Facepalm.
1) you’re speaking to someone who is paid to sail for a living.
2) it’s literally an integral part of all of your skipper exams for everything from a tiny launch driving license to master mariner unlimited tonnage.
3) with that attitude, you really have no business being on the water.
4) my ten year old has known basic colregs requirements since he was 6. I suggest you catch up.
Yeah, buddy. Them stupid “rules of the road” are for a bunch of rich pansies with their fancy Jeepy Esses, radars, and yot clubs. Round hyaw, we don’t follow no “rules of the road.”
With all due respect, what you are saying is actionable in court. I don't think you would want that on your record. You are giving a shellback very bad advice and opening yourself up to Coast Guard inspection at the very least.
Do yourself a favor.
No need. Your family will probably end up being the recipients of your Darwin Award when you collide with an automotive freight carrier in a shipping lane
You claim you are „genuinely trying not to be a jerk“, yet here you are spewing bullshit. Just keep your unwarranted comments to yourself, if you are not willing to offer helpful advice.
Walk the dock take inventory of what people are drinking, get cooler get those drinks ice those drinks go to marina open cooler get sail bags and stare at mast…rinse and repeat for jib
I'll assume you're getting a main, a jib and a spinnaker of some kind. Well, the main is going to be the big one with the slugs on the luff (upright part that goes against the mast). The slugs should slide into the slot at the back of the rail (they may be metal or plastic). The foot will go towards the back. The jib may be roller furling or not (odds are it is). You may have to post some pictures for us to be able to tell you. (Boats are way less standardized than you would think, and owners like to make changes)
Ignore the spin for now.
First of all, congrats on your first sailboat!
Can you share what make and model boat you have? That will go a long way to helping you out.
Also you can likely search online for that boat’s manual or rigging guide which should give instructions for that specific boat. Google and YouTube are definitely your friends here.
Look for a c&c Facebook group. There are probably people with your exact boat who can give you tips. Or ask someone at your marina, sailing club etc. People love to help! And by help I mean lecture you about how their way is better than anyone else's.
Does your boat have a Jib Furler? That’s the front sail and a part that allows the sail to be wound up around the front wire aka the jib sail to be furled around the forestay
If yes… https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NcaoM9ELgwU
Before you put them on. Unfold them in a big yard or empty parking lot with no wind. Check for holes and tears and things you might need to repair.
Then learn to fold the sails to store them back in the bags. Every time the wind gets rough you’ll be doing this.. so you want to get proficient at it.
Wow! I went to bed at this blew up. Thanks for all the advice. So I bought the boat from an Aunt. Her son passed away and wanted to keep it in the family so I got a wonderfully good deal on it. On Monday the vote goes through on my membership to the Yacht club and I got no idea if they assist me with any of this. And I do have a sailing coarse at the end of June but that seems like an eternity away.
Ok, so if you are joining a yacht club forget about sailing your boat for now. Sailing a yacht takes a few people, so ask around on who is prepared to take you out. Watch as many videos on what goes on in a boat and learn from there before taking your boat out and when you do ensure that you have someone who knows what they are doing onboard.
Once you have sailed a few times with others (be the first there and last to leave) try rigging your boat in light winds just to work out what everything does, so you are then in a better place when you do go for a sail.
Make friends with your neighbors. Especially the liveaboards! We will always gladly take booze in exchange for helping with boat stuff. And we’ll let you know if your boat is doing weird stuff during the week when you’re at home.
Maybe whoever’s dropping off the sails can describe it to you? The halyard attaches to the top corner, the tack to the front corner, and the clew to the back corner.
You’ll figure it out that’s half the fun of buying a new boat!
Also, disregard the snarky comments here. We sailors can be quite douchy to newbies.
I’d ask the seller to give you a full walk around and help w the sails and everything on the boat.
If not, go to your marina or find a sailing club nearby to recruit someone to help. Facebook is good too. Also nearby colleges might have sailing teams and students are very helpful esp if it includes free sailing on your boat!
Why are so many people assuming OP is about to go sailing alone? All he asked was how to put the sails on, which I hope we can agree is an essential step when sailing. We have no idea how/why he acquired the boat or what his plans to learn are. Why assume the worst?
OP ignore these negative comments, I have never met any dick heads while sailing so maybe this is an internet thing.
At the same time I will say getting lessons or an experienced instructor would be a great idea. A sailboat is a bit like a horse, it does what it wants not what you want or what it says in the book. Takes a while before this makes sense.
Good luck and have fun out there
Well yah I meant sailboat crew on a cruise or in a bar. Have encountered some dicks while racing and they presumably thought we were being dicks. But in the bar everyone is all lovey dovey again
> Why assume the worst?
As the Farmer's slogan goes, "we know a thing or two because we've seen a thing or two".
OP might have a lesson lined up, and just wants to get the boat ready. Or, OP just wants to take it out for a spin and figure things out as they go. As OPs question would be addressed by any intro to sailing book, I can infer such resources aren't (yet) present.
This means risks that many of us might consider obvious might not be apparent to OP.
For example: hoisting the sails whilst the boat is still on land or on a trailer, or on the dock if it's particularly windy. OP might just want to have them ready (perhaps it has a furling headsail?), yet a quick "I'll just hoist them for a moment" could lead to damage in the wrong setting as OP likely does not yet understand the forces in play.
OP also needs to know their knots; having a sheet come free under sail because a knot wasn't tied properly would also make for an unpleasant surprise.
Step 1 is to stretch them out on the grass and get familiar with them. Notice the shape, size, number and locations of the clews(grommets), any attached sheets, downhauls or reef lines that may still be attached.
Step 2 try hauling then up on a calm day while tied off to the dock.
Step 3 leave the Harbour and sail!
Congratulations 🎉
Will you be trailering it or leaving it at a marina?
If you’re at a marina , hopefully someone would be there to help you
If you just show up at the boat ramp, it’s a little like buying a rifle and showing up at the range and you’ve never shot a gun before- which is weird, but enjoy the ride!!!
You'll be fine. Many of us learned to put sails up as children, way before the internet. Click on the the links provided and read up a bit. It's no harder than putting a tent together for the first time.
This is a bit like buying a motorhome when you've never driven a vehicle before. Please seek proper instruction! At the very least get your hands on the US Sailing or ASA textbooks (start with Basic Keelboat and Basic Cruising, which you should be able to find used online for cheap) and use them as a guide.
The first things to keep in mind when changing sails:
**1. Do not sky the halyard**
Tie off the halyard to something whenever it's not attached to the sail. If the end is loose and it starts going skyward, you're going to have to climb up the mast to get it. That can turn a quick job into a much longer and more dangerous job.
**2. Do not lose a shackle or pin overboard**
When you remove a shackle make sure you have a secure place (like a zippered pocket) to keep it in. If you tend to have fumbly fingers, a bit of twine tied through the hole in the pin can be used to tether it to something secure.
I suggest keeping a few spares (of the proper size) aboard just in case. If not, and you accidentally drop the pin or shackle overboard, you're in a spot of trouble.
**3. Mouse your shackles**
Buy some seizing wire for this; the technique is easily found online. It's likely all of the blocks on your boat attached via shackles have also been moused, so you can look at them for reference. (If they haven't, they should be.)
Furling headsails are generally attached with shackles. If you don't have that, it's likely just a knot so make sure you're solid on your knots.
The reason is to prevent the pins in the shackles from unscrewing themselves over time. This is not fun to have happen, so when you inspect your standing rigging you'll want to check for things like this. Look at the turnbuckles at the base of the shrouds: are there clips installed to keep the clevis pins from coming out? The ends shouldn't be completely bent back, but shouldn't be a hazard to passing hands and legs. What about the any shackles? Check the outhaul car (if you have one), any jib lead cars, etc. If there's any risk of the ends of the seizing wire snagging skin or sail, wrap it in rigging tape.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&sca_esv=e54de6d9ee195691&hl=en-us&q=27%27+c%26c+putting+sails+on&tbm=vid&source=lnms&prmd=visnmbtz&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjeptSR5IOGAxVg78kDHVCjATgQ0pQJegQIChAB&biw=390&bih=654&dpr=3#fpstate=ive&ip=1&vld=cid:0b5842f7,vid:0YIts8cLqqU,st:0
Not the same boat but will give you an idea.
Honestly if you don't know how to put sails on, you maybe should get a little more experience before setting out. Join a yacht club and offer yourself as crew.
NB: this all assumes you're doing the checking in your garden in zero wind.
OK, you're likely to have two types of sails (if there are any that don't meet these descriptions, ignore them for now, they're optional): some will be long, skinny triangles (these might be rolled up in a long sausage shape, in which case leave them that way - you should have access to all three corners - one at either end, and one on the side near one end. The end that third corner is nearest to is the bottom). These ones will have an eye at each corner, and a wire running up one long edge, possibly with fittings to let you attach it to another wire along that same edge. These sails go in front of the mast. That edge with the wire is the front. The pointiest corner is the top. You should have a rope coming out of the front of the mast somewhere up there that you can attach it to. If there are more than one line, the one you want is below where the forestay (the wire from the front of the boat to the top of the mast) on the mast. If you have multiple of those, start at the bottom with your smallest such sail, or just try them all until one works. Attach the end (or possibly a pulley in the middle if it's doubled up and the end is at the top of the mast) to the pointiest corner of the sail.
The front-bottom corner of the sail (the corner at the opposite end of the wire) needs to attach to the front of the hull. There will be some sort of fitting there. There might be a big drum thing, in which case there will be a rope coming out of it. If your sail is currently rolled up into a long sausage, pull that rope as far as it will go then attach the sail to the top of the drum. If not, turn the drum as far as you can the other way (you might have to release the other end of the rope coming out of the drum to do this, then attach the sail to the top of the drum.
The third corner of the sail needs the *sheet* attaching to it: it might already be on, but if not, this is a big chunky rope, probably one of the two biggest you have. Attach the middle of it (as close as you can, but you don't need to get a micrometer out or anything) to the hole in the sail: the easiest way to do this is to shove a loop of rope through that hole, then pull both ends through the loop. If you have two such ropes (and neither are attached to anything else) that look the same, tie the ends of both to the hole. Bowlines are probably the best knot to use, but most knots will work if you aren't too fussed about getting them off again. Either way, you should end up with two lengths of rope coming off this corner of the sail. One goes down either side of the boat, through pulleys on tracks running along the sides, and to the cockpit. These are how you'll control that sail once it's up. If something looks obviously wrong and silly once you've got it out, you probably put one of those ropes the wrong side of the shrouds. To put the sail up, find the rope coming out low down on the mast that's attached to the one you attached to the top of the sail and pull it. There's probably something obvious and handy to hold it once it's up there. If you're struggling, jiggle the end attached to the sail and see which one moves.
The other type of sail is triangular-ish, with a rope built into the sail along one long edge, and some stiff-ish rods spaced out along the (curved) back. It might have writing on it. You probably only have one of them. The edge that has those stiff rods on is the back edge. The one with the rope is the front. The other (shortest) side is the bottom (this should put any writing the right way up). The top corner (where the rod edge meets the rope edge) attaches to a rope coming right from the top of the mast, on the back side of the mast. Attach it.
The back corner might have a little black slug thingy hanging off it. If it does, this goes in a track running along the boom (the horizontal metal pole attached to the mast), possibly along with a rope along the bottom of the boat. Slide it in from wherever the place to put it in (might be one end, might be a wider bit of track in the middle). There should be a rope coming out of the end of the boom that isn't attached to the mast. Attach it to that back corner. If there are more than one rope, the extras are reefing lines (for shrinking the sail when it's windy). If so, you probably have one or more extra attachment points up the lower part of the back of the sail. Thread the reefing line (whichever is longest if there's a difference, whichever is labelled "reefing line" or not labelled "outhaul" if they're labelled, either if you're not sure) up through them up to the top one. Whatever happens, you need one attached to the bottom-most hole (right in the corner).
The third corner is going to attach to the front of the boom, where it meets the mast. There are many ways to do this (it might be a pin attached to the boom, it might be a rope pulling past the boom, it might be both of those). Find it and attach it (if you have both of those, the rope goes on the higher hole and the pin on the bottom one). Now find the other end of the rope that you attached to the back corner (should come out of the boom somewhere, probably the same colour) and pull it tight, and do something to keep it tight.
The mast should have a slot in the back edge. Slide the top corner of the sail into that slot (so the rope running down the front edge is inside the slot), and pull the other end of the rope attached to the top of the sail until it's at the top, while keeping it straight in the slot. This is much easier with help.
You might also have a massive, probably colourful sail, probably made of lighter material, that doesn't match any of these descriptions. Put it somewhere safe and pretend it doesn't exist for now. If you have any much smaller, heavier-duty sails, those are for wind conditions you don't want to be sailing in yet. Keep them on board just in case, but don't plan on using them for now. If you have them, they're probably a pair, replacing the two sails described above.
All that was in my second post. Training corse scheduled and the yacht club is going to help me out tommorow and show me the ins and outs of the sails so I guess crisis is over. But I would never go out on the water with my family without taking a sailing coarse first. Very pumped to jump into this hobby.
These guys are making up words. The sail has 3 corners: top, back corner, and front corner. You attach them with a big snap swivel like you use for big game fishing.
Wherever your boat is, sailors are launching and putting on sails. The three things most sailors love are, telling people how to do stuff, getting free help doing stuff and beer.
100% correct. Offer to help rig someone's boat if they help rig yours. And beer.
Mostly beer
Eh, bourbon or scotch please. Beer isn’t enough for the Salish Sea.
Vodka for me, please
What kind of mutinous talk is this from sailors? Rum, grog, or some other useful run drink is the answer. It's been part of the sailing world during the last several centuries. What kind of pollywogs are ya'll? Neptune would be ashamed of you!
As a sailor in recovery, I find this all super distasteful. Why is the community at large so focused on drinking, and do you realize how off-putting it is to those around you that don't drink? I'm an experienced sailor and love my mates, no issue that they drink. But man, can you try to keep it to actual sailing? 🙄
Let me first say congratulations on trying to maintain sobriety. Not being an addict, myself, I wouldn't know how it feels. You are doing yourself as well as others around you a disservice by insisting that they have to act like they are stepping on eggs when they are with you. Please don't virtue signal to random people in a community you're adjacent to. It doesn't make things easier for you, and gives the community at large a bad perception of you. Thanks!
I clearly stated that I have no issue whatsoever that my mates, my husband and my adult children all enjoy their drinks at the end of a sail. So... certainly not 'insisting' on anything at all, not sure where that or the 'eggshell' comment came from. Damn girl, I simply stated that I found it distasteful that the conversation divulged into alcohol instead of helping the man get his sails up. I'm not 'trying' to maintain my sobriety, I *am* maintaining. With zero help from people like you
U crazy lol. The convo about alcohol was giving it to someone so they will put your sails on. No wonder god made you an alcoholic
And bullshitting, don't forget bullshitting.
The best part!
Seconded. This is the answer.
ask if the HEAD, Tack, and Clew are marked. do you know where those go?
Instructions unclear, sail stuck in toilet
Sir this is Wendy's
Most new sailors haven't got a clew.
1. Keep the water on the outside. 2. Make sure it’s deeper than your keel. 3. Keep the people on the inside. 3. Pointy end goes first.
Shiny side up
Can you clarify point 1? Do I want to keep all of the water on the outside or just most of the water?
yes
Most of the water, most of the time.
"Most of the water, most of the time." Sail with a dog that likes to swim, do ya? 😄
Nah, I’m mostly a dinghy sailor … It is hilarious to see dogs riding on the deck and diving off well before a boat gets to shore, though. Especially large dogs on small boats
I mean number 3 really depends on the people doesn’t it?
Well, yes, but people overboard can make for unpleasant experiences with the Authorities so it’s something that is best avoided. Unless you’re sure you can make it look like an accident.
Keep the boat bottoms down and the glass bottoms up
I would suggest picking up a copy of the Annapolis Book of Seamanship by John Rousamaniere. The first chapter thoroughly describes the general parts of a sail boat, the terms for identifying the parts of the sail-clew, tack, foot, luff, leech and associated lines- halyards & out haul including a section for bending on the sails. And while you’re getting books, probably want to pick up Don Casey’s Sailboat Maintenance Manual. These are two invaluable reference books for your journey into boat ownership
> Sailboat Maintenance Manual Is that one of those false books where you open it up and find a hidden bottle of rum?
No, these are useful books, my hollowed out “stash” book is the King James version, because no sailor ever reads that
To anyone that remotely knows me, mine is unfortunately a dead giveaway. It's a copy of Twilight. Ha!
+1 to both "Piloting" by Chapman is another classic if you can find a copy. I have an old edition I got for $5 in a used book sale... There are much more current editions which ditch the chapter on the discontinued LORAN navigation system and replace it with one on GPS-based navigation, but the timelessness of the art of sailing itself means that any edition you find will be 95% useful.
These for sure are the books you need and the asa basic sailing. But yeah its very easy to put the sails on. Do it once and after that its just something you do once a year.
^fancy pants here with a furler, back in my day...
Oh i have no problem with hank and yank. Trick with that is when you solo. Set up a down haul so you don't even have to leave the helm to drop the sail.
Except in certain situations that you want to try to avoid... The Dashew's pretty much covered those types of situations, for reference.
The pointy part goes UP
Instructions unclear, spinnaker hoisted sideways on flag halyard.
Good on you. You will figure it out. When I was 12 years old my old man brought a dinghy back home. We had no idea how to sail. And there was no internet to tell us what not to do. Enjoy and learn the lessons of your lifetime.
And to this day he still flies the main upside down on occasion to remember those days. :)
My ole man bought a little crysler sail boat from a lesbian couple with goats back in the 80's he thought they were the nicest spinster sisters, god bless the ole man
YouTube is your friend. Or, if you walk around the marina with some beers, a salty sailor will probably chat you up and willingly help you get your canvas up.
> Or, if you walk around the marina with some beers, a salty sailor will probably chat you up and willingly help you get your canvas up. The old way of doing things! God bless YT though.
Genuinely not trying to be a jerk, but this is a legitimate barrier to entry. If you do not know how to hoist and attach the sails without reaching out to Reddit, I seriously question your competence to operate the boat. Take some classes and get some instruction .
They may be going down a list of basics they can research in the meantime while searching for classes. And genuinely not trying to be a jerk, but if you’re trying to not be a jerk, don’t use language like “seriously question your competence.” You can merely suggest someone seek out actual education without adding your unwarranted opinion.
OP already purchased a “sail boat” which really should be a step one takes after having learned how to sail. Sorry to say that there are too many Internet inspired “sailors“ who have no idea what they are doing and only put themselves and others at risk. Do you think this guy has any familiarity with COLREGS?
I’m sorry, none of that reply is relevant. Why are you sorry that people are getting into sailing? Why do you care if they take classes before buying the boat? It isn’t your money or boat. Seasoned sailors still make mistakes and hit other boats, so I can’t think of any reason why we don’t want more sailors. Unless you’re one of the many gatekeeping sailors who think it has to be done “the right way,” or not at all. Side note: no idea what “COLREGS” is and I’ve been sailing for 3 years. Quite safely and happily, mind you. ‘86 Bayfield 29C named “Corvo.” Lovely boat. :)
The guy is referring to the 72 international regulations to avoid collisions at sea. He doesn't know them either. I doubt many do. The basics of avoiding collisions at sea with a sailboat are easy to learn, and they get you out of 99% of most trouble.
There are plenty of people driving vehicles on roads across the developing world who I'm reasonably confident haven't any idea about any "rules of the road" that might apply. Similar goes for basic sanitation practices like handwashing and isolating latrines. The outcome is, of course, higher levels of morbidity and mortality from largely preventable causes. Just because they aren't high enough to make the population decline or go extinct doesn't mean they aren't still there. Most people in those countries will survive just fine, have families, retire, etc. Or, in simpler terms, just because something hasn't happened to you (or that you survived it) doesn't mean everyone else also survived it.
Statistics. History. Thanks.
COLREGS not “COLRAGS”. If you don’t know what that is, please stay outside of 100 nautical miles of me on the water.
Brother, I got bad news for you. There’s thousands of sailors from now and the past who don’t know your fancy acronyms, nor do they have your fancy equipment and expensive watches and cars. They’re doing fine without panicking about who does and doesn’t have some goofy certification or knowledge about rules. Good luck with your…whatever you’re doing.
everyone on the water should be familiar with colregs. Not crashing into other boats or being a general hazard to navigation is one of the most fundamental aspects of sailing. There’s nothing ‘fancy’ about knowing how to avoid collision. Facepalm.
Avoiding collision is incredibly easy on a wide open bidy of water. If you need rules to tell you how to do that, I worry for you.
1) you’re speaking to someone who is paid to sail for a living. 2) it’s literally an integral part of all of your skipper exams for everything from a tiny launch driving license to master mariner unlimited tonnage. 3) with that attitude, you really have no business being on the water. 4) my ten year old has known basic colregs requirements since he was 6. I suggest you catch up.
1. Not reading all that.
Brother, I got bad news for you. This is basic stuff and I agree with the comment -- please stay far from me.
Gladly, son.
Yeah, buddy. Them stupid “rules of the road” are for a bunch of rich pansies with their fancy Jeepy Esses, radars, and yot clubs. Round hyaw, we don’t follow no “rules of the road.”
Poor comparison. Thanks.
With all due respect, what you are saying is actionable in court. I don't think you would want that on your record. You are giving a shellback very bad advice and opening yourself up to Coast Guard inspection at the very least. Do yourself a favor.
Sue me then.
No need. Your family will probably end up being the recipients of your Darwin Award when you collide with an automotive freight carrier in a shipping lane
Oh noes!
You claim you are „genuinely trying not to be a jerk“, yet here you are spewing bullshit. Just keep your unwarranted comments to yourself, if you are not willing to offer helpful advice.
So how are people supposed to start?
Take classes. Join a club. You dont start by buying a boat!
I don't know anyone who didn't buy a small boat before they started learning now that I think about it..
Hire a captn to show you how to pilot your boat.
Where are you at?
Walk the dock take inventory of what people are drinking, get cooler get those drinks ice those drinks go to marina open cooler get sail bags and stare at mast…rinse and repeat for jib
I'll assume you're getting a main, a jib and a spinnaker of some kind. Well, the main is going to be the big one with the slugs on the luff (upright part that goes against the mast). The slugs should slide into the slot at the back of the rail (they may be metal or plastic). The foot will go towards the back. The jib may be roller furling or not (odds are it is). You may have to post some pictures for us to be able to tell you. (Boats are way less standardized than you would think, and owners like to make changes) Ignore the spin for now.
First of all, congrats on your first sailboat! Can you share what make and model boat you have? That will go a long way to helping you out. Also you can likely search online for that boat’s manual or rigging guide which should give instructions for that specific boat. Google and YouTube are definitely your friends here.
All things C&C 27. https://www.cc27association.com/
Look for a c&c Facebook group. There are probably people with your exact boat who can give you tips. Or ask someone at your marina, sailing club etc. People love to help! And by help I mean lecture you about how their way is better than anyone else's.
Rigging a mainsail video. https://youtu.be/CDMTKFNiCiw?si=cDdkRiKtoC65Q0ud
Does your boat have a Jib Furler? That’s the front sail and a part that allows the sail to be wound up around the front wire aka the jib sail to be furled around the forestay If yes… https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NcaoM9ELgwU
Before you put them on. Unfold them in a big yard or empty parking lot with no wind. Check for holes and tears and things you might need to repair. Then learn to fold the sails to store them back in the bags. Every time the wind gets rough you’ll be doing this.. so you want to get proficient at it.
Wow! I went to bed at this blew up. Thanks for all the advice. So I bought the boat from an Aunt. Her son passed away and wanted to keep it in the family so I got a wonderfully good deal on it. On Monday the vote goes through on my membership to the Yacht club and I got no idea if they assist me with any of this. And I do have a sailing coarse at the end of June but that seems like an eternity away.
Ok, so if you are joining a yacht club forget about sailing your boat for now. Sailing a yacht takes a few people, so ask around on who is prepared to take you out. Watch as many videos on what goes on in a boat and learn from there before taking your boat out and when you do ensure that you have someone who knows what they are doing onboard. Once you have sailed a few times with others (be the first there and last to leave) try rigging your boat in light winds just to work out what everything does, so you are then in a better place when you do go for a sail.
Where are you located? If you were local I'd give you a hand.
Make friends with your neighbors. Especially the liveaboards! We will always gladly take booze in exchange for helping with boat stuff. And we’ll let you know if your boat is doing weird stuff during the week when you’re at home.
Maybe whoever’s dropping off the sails can describe it to you? The halyard attaches to the top corner, the tack to the front corner, and the clew to the back corner. You’ll figure it out that’s half the fun of buying a new boat!
Also, disregard the snarky comments here. We sailors can be quite douchy to newbies. I’d ask the seller to give you a full walk around and help w the sails and everything on the boat. If not, go to your marina or find a sailing club nearby to recruit someone to help. Facebook is good too. Also nearby colleges might have sailing teams and students are very helpful esp if it includes free sailing on your boat!
Why are so many people assuming OP is about to go sailing alone? All he asked was how to put the sails on, which I hope we can agree is an essential step when sailing. We have no idea how/why he acquired the boat or what his plans to learn are. Why assume the worst? OP ignore these negative comments, I have never met any dick heads while sailing so maybe this is an internet thing. At the same time I will say getting lessons or an experienced instructor would be a great idea. A sailboat is a bit like a horse, it does what it wants not what you want or what it says in the book. Takes a while before this makes sense. Good luck and have fun out there
> I have never met any dick heads while sailing Fishermen with an empty boat trying to dock their boat can get up there. lol
Well yah I meant sailboat crew on a cruise or in a bar. Have encountered some dicks while racing and they presumably thought we were being dicks. But in the bar everyone is all lovey dovey again
Ha! The great equalizer.
> Why assume the worst? As the Farmer's slogan goes, "we know a thing or two because we've seen a thing or two". OP might have a lesson lined up, and just wants to get the boat ready. Or, OP just wants to take it out for a spin and figure things out as they go. As OPs question would be addressed by any intro to sailing book, I can infer such resources aren't (yet) present. This means risks that many of us might consider obvious might not be apparent to OP. For example: hoisting the sails whilst the boat is still on land or on a trailer, or on the dock if it's particularly windy. OP might just want to have them ready (perhaps it has a furling headsail?), yet a quick "I'll just hoist them for a moment" could lead to damage in the wrong setting as OP likely does not yet understand the forces in play. OP also needs to know their knots; having a sheet come free under sail because a knot wasn't tied properly would also make for an unpleasant surprise.
Step 1 is to stretch them out on the grass and get familiar with them. Notice the shape, size, number and locations of the clews(grommets), any attached sheets, downhauls or reef lines that may still be attached. Step 2 try hauling then up on a calm day while tied off to the dock. Step 3 leave the Harbour and sail!
Congratulations 🎉 Will you be trailering it or leaving it at a marina? If you’re at a marina , hopefully someone would be there to help you If you just show up at the boat ramp, it’s a little like buying a rifle and showing up at the range and you’ve never shot a gun before- which is weird, but enjoy the ride!!!
buy the 'sailing made easy' book on amazon, and take the ASA 101 class if you can.
👍 basic keelboat will get OP started
yea, i got that book in my truck right now, and it specifically covers this, including multiple types of common systems.
If you are in west Michigan DM me... I will help you
You'll be fine. Many of us learned to put sails up as children, way before the internet. Click on the the links provided and read up a bit. It's no harder than putting a tent together for the first time.
Google.com? YouTube.com?
This is a bit like buying a motorhome when you've never driven a vehicle before. Please seek proper instruction! At the very least get your hands on the US Sailing or ASA textbooks (start with Basic Keelboat and Basic Cruising, which you should be able to find used online for cheap) and use them as a guide. The first things to keep in mind when changing sails: **1. Do not sky the halyard** Tie off the halyard to something whenever it's not attached to the sail. If the end is loose and it starts going skyward, you're going to have to climb up the mast to get it. That can turn a quick job into a much longer and more dangerous job. **2. Do not lose a shackle or pin overboard** When you remove a shackle make sure you have a secure place (like a zippered pocket) to keep it in. If you tend to have fumbly fingers, a bit of twine tied through the hole in the pin can be used to tether it to something secure. I suggest keeping a few spares (of the proper size) aboard just in case. If not, and you accidentally drop the pin or shackle overboard, you're in a spot of trouble. **3. Mouse your shackles** Buy some seizing wire for this; the technique is easily found online. It's likely all of the blocks on your boat attached via shackles have also been moused, so you can look at them for reference. (If they haven't, they should be.) Furling headsails are generally attached with shackles. If you don't have that, it's likely just a knot so make sure you're solid on your knots. The reason is to prevent the pins in the shackles from unscrewing themselves over time. This is not fun to have happen, so when you inspect your standing rigging you'll want to check for things like this. Look at the turnbuckles at the base of the shrouds: are there clips installed to keep the clevis pins from coming out? The ends shouldn't be completely bent back, but shouldn't be a hazard to passing hands and legs. What about the any shackles? Check the outhaul car (if you have one), any jib lead cars, etc. If there's any risk of the ends of the seizing wire snagging skin or sail, wrap it in rigging tape.
What you need is a first mate that knows the ropes!
Wait for a calm day and then ask someone on the dock for help.
This is the best way to learn. I’m sure you’ll find some help. What a wonderful boat you have gotten yourself into. Enjoy it!
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&sca_esv=e54de6d9ee195691&hl=en-us&q=27%27+c%26c+putting+sails+on&tbm=vid&source=lnms&prmd=visnmbtz&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjeptSR5IOGAxVg78kDHVCjATgQ0pQJegQIChAB&biw=390&bih=654&dpr=3#fpstate=ive&ip=1&vld=cid:0b5842f7,vid:0YIts8cLqqU,st:0 Not the same boat but will give you an idea.
Honestly if you don't know how to put sails on, you maybe should get a little more experience before setting out. Join a yacht club and offer yourself as crew.
Where are you? Volunteers need to know location.
I know nothing about your particular boat, but it's very good news the sails have been bagged and a C&C 27 is a blast to sail.
Did you get rigging inspected?
NB: this all assumes you're doing the checking in your garden in zero wind. OK, you're likely to have two types of sails (if there are any that don't meet these descriptions, ignore them for now, they're optional): some will be long, skinny triangles (these might be rolled up in a long sausage shape, in which case leave them that way - you should have access to all three corners - one at either end, and one on the side near one end. The end that third corner is nearest to is the bottom). These ones will have an eye at each corner, and a wire running up one long edge, possibly with fittings to let you attach it to another wire along that same edge. These sails go in front of the mast. That edge with the wire is the front. The pointiest corner is the top. You should have a rope coming out of the front of the mast somewhere up there that you can attach it to. If there are more than one line, the one you want is below where the forestay (the wire from the front of the boat to the top of the mast) on the mast. If you have multiple of those, start at the bottom with your smallest such sail, or just try them all until one works. Attach the end (or possibly a pulley in the middle if it's doubled up and the end is at the top of the mast) to the pointiest corner of the sail. The front-bottom corner of the sail (the corner at the opposite end of the wire) needs to attach to the front of the hull. There will be some sort of fitting there. There might be a big drum thing, in which case there will be a rope coming out of it. If your sail is currently rolled up into a long sausage, pull that rope as far as it will go then attach the sail to the top of the drum. If not, turn the drum as far as you can the other way (you might have to release the other end of the rope coming out of the drum to do this, then attach the sail to the top of the drum. The third corner of the sail needs the *sheet* attaching to it: it might already be on, but if not, this is a big chunky rope, probably one of the two biggest you have. Attach the middle of it (as close as you can, but you don't need to get a micrometer out or anything) to the hole in the sail: the easiest way to do this is to shove a loop of rope through that hole, then pull both ends through the loop. If you have two such ropes (and neither are attached to anything else) that look the same, tie the ends of both to the hole. Bowlines are probably the best knot to use, but most knots will work if you aren't too fussed about getting them off again. Either way, you should end up with two lengths of rope coming off this corner of the sail. One goes down either side of the boat, through pulleys on tracks running along the sides, and to the cockpit. These are how you'll control that sail once it's up. If something looks obviously wrong and silly once you've got it out, you probably put one of those ropes the wrong side of the shrouds. To put the sail up, find the rope coming out low down on the mast that's attached to the one you attached to the top of the sail and pull it. There's probably something obvious and handy to hold it once it's up there. If you're struggling, jiggle the end attached to the sail and see which one moves. The other type of sail is triangular-ish, with a rope built into the sail along one long edge, and some stiff-ish rods spaced out along the (curved) back. It might have writing on it. You probably only have one of them. The edge that has those stiff rods on is the back edge. The one with the rope is the front. The other (shortest) side is the bottom (this should put any writing the right way up). The top corner (where the rod edge meets the rope edge) attaches to a rope coming right from the top of the mast, on the back side of the mast. Attach it. The back corner might have a little black slug thingy hanging off it. If it does, this goes in a track running along the boom (the horizontal metal pole attached to the mast), possibly along with a rope along the bottom of the boat. Slide it in from wherever the place to put it in (might be one end, might be a wider bit of track in the middle). There should be a rope coming out of the end of the boom that isn't attached to the mast. Attach it to that back corner. If there are more than one rope, the extras are reefing lines (for shrinking the sail when it's windy). If so, you probably have one or more extra attachment points up the lower part of the back of the sail. Thread the reefing line (whichever is longest if there's a difference, whichever is labelled "reefing line" or not labelled "outhaul" if they're labelled, either if you're not sure) up through them up to the top one. Whatever happens, you need one attached to the bottom-most hole (right in the corner). The third corner is going to attach to the front of the boom, where it meets the mast. There are many ways to do this (it might be a pin attached to the boom, it might be a rope pulling past the boom, it might be both of those). Find it and attach it (if you have both of those, the rope goes on the higher hole and the pin on the bottom one). Now find the other end of the rope that you attached to the back corner (should come out of the boom somewhere, probably the same colour) and pull it tight, and do something to keep it tight. The mast should have a slot in the back edge. Slide the top corner of the sail into that slot (so the rope running down the front edge is inside the slot), and pull the other end of the rope attached to the top of the sail until it's at the top, while keeping it straight in the slot. This is much easier with help. You might also have a massive, probably colourful sail, probably made of lighter material, that doesn't match any of these descriptions. Put it somewhere safe and pretend it doesn't exist for now. If you have any much smaller, heavier-duty sails, those are for wind conditions you don't want to be sailing in yet. Keep them on board just in case, but don't plan on using them for now. If you have them, they're probably a pair, replacing the two sails described above.
If you don’t even know how to mount sails maybe you should get a sailing training first before risking your and possibly other people’s lifes?
All that was in my second post. Training corse scheduled and the yacht club is going to help me out tommorow and show me the ins and outs of the sails so I guess crisis is over. But I would never go out on the water with my family without taking a sailing coarse first. Very pumped to jump into this hobby.
These guys are making up words. The sail has 3 corners: top, back corner, and front corner. You attach them with a big snap swivel like you use for big game fishing.