Top Sail

Sheila Murray

Notes on raising the Top Sail

Click here Hoisting the Top sail

1.9.09

Mast

Richard

My preference is to go up the mast and this is not too difficult 
provided your Yarmouth has a topsail halyard. On Roundel, I've made-
up a very long block and tackle - I think it is a 5:1. The top block 
is hoisted up with the topsail halyard until it hits the sheeve then 
is made off securely. The lower block then clips on to a bosun's 
chair or climbing harness (which I use) and the long tail is led to 
a sheet winch via one of the jammers. I tend to haul myself up while 
Helen takes up the slack on the tail via the winch/jammer and also 
controls the rate of descent on the way down. I've found the block & 
tackle a good investment as it has a multitude of other uses (well 
one or 2 anyway) and it's handy to be able to go up the mast for 
other jobs such as bulb changes. I've also used a ladder lashed to 
the shrouds and guard rail but only with the boat out of the water.
 

For a temporary wind indicator, have a look at the mini-hawk which 
is popular with laser and topper dinghy sailors. It fits around the 
mast and is secured by bungee - I expect you could fit one (or even 
2) near the top on the Yarmouth mast with the arm 'pointing' 
sideways so that you can view the arrow from the helm.
20.8.70

Tim Cadbury

 Finally as I am sure you all realise Bona <5>, is a Bermudan Cutter, but it does have a Z spa mast on to which is fitted folding rungs, which have always been useful more particularly,when the halyard holding the mainsail became disconnected in the middle of the Solent!!!

I am sure that all gaffers will be relieved to hear that in an unofficial race downwind from Yarmouth to Newtown, David Freeman won easily!!I think That on a beat to windward the result might have been different!!!

20.7.08

 

Furling

Jeremy Church

As far as furling drums are concerned we did have the Harken drums which were inadequate in any sort of breeze and the replacement Barton furlers have been trouble free provided the furling lines are wound correctly.

 I have replaced the reefing rams horns with  sprung carabiners which do not snag the luff lacing. As on Roundel ( 25 March 2007) I found that the mast was being shaved by the gaff jaws. I have sanded the mast down and after seven coast of varnish and a much thicker leather on the gaff saddle my mast looks as good as new!

 20.8.07

Richard - Roundel No 25

I have the Barton furlers - I think I may have been the first to have them fitted from new after Jeremy Church commented that the Harkens were difficult to use in a strong wind. I also have the lifting bowsprit which passes easily over the staysail drum but can't say whether David modified the bowsprit to allow this to happen.

 Anyway, the Bartons generally are fine. Funnily enough I had a small problem with one of them to day when the staysail did not fully unfurl - it was because the furling line had 'clogged' a bit on the drum and this was easily rectified by hand at the sail. I've only ever had one problem furling in 3 years when I think the jib got a riding turn on the furling line and only half furled - I did a temporary sort by dropping the sail and lashing it down (it was a F5 at the time)......I've not had the problem again. I wouldn't recommend a reefing system for the headsa ils - it makes the sails much harder to drop if you need to because of the luff foil - and the sails are relatively small so all out or all in seems to be the order of the day.....that said, I do have a storm jib which hanks on to the forestay for that day when I need to go to windward in a F7 + ( a day I hope never comes!).

 I think one owner has blocks for his furling line that fit on to the stantions to reduce friction - I don't and haven't found friction to be a problem with the Bartons.

Steven

We still have the original Wykeham Martin furling drum - none of your modern Harken stuff! Our main consideratio n is being able to lift the bowsprit to save on marina charges. This limits the size of the furling drum so I imagine the various types you mention would be too large to go through the slot in the bowsprit. Please say if I have got this wrong. We don't find the need to reef the headsails although we do furl the jib completely when needed. The again, we try not to go out in stronger winds. I suspect Richard up in Scotland would be th expert on this subject.

20.8.07

Lewis

On Windsong, I am finding the Harken no. 165 drum will only furl if we hold head to wind and if we take the line on to the sheet winch which still requires sufficient effort to cause a concern that the line will break : I would like the ability to set or reef either headsail with relative ease and safety which we are not achieving at present.

I have trailed the problem with David Lemonious who told me Yarmouth are now fitting the Barton/Plastimo furler which is less expensive than the Harken no. 436 by £300 plus!! Also, I have discussed the problem with Quay Sails in Poole, who I know, and they have suggested I consider the Plastimo Roller/Furler if we wish to upgrade to a full roller reefing system although this would be a more expensive option.

8.7.07