This season, what with one thing and another, the chances to go sailing have been limited to single days out, rather than longer periods. The family aren't particularly interested in the sailing side of things, so I have ended up going out on my own for a couple of hours or so each weekend. I have now learnt to get under way, pick up the mooring, anchor and reef down all on my own and under sail! This is most satisfying and makes up to a large extent for not getting to 'foreign' harbours. The secret is simple :- set a working jib instead of the genoa. The smaller sail is easier to sheet in, you can see under it, you go almost as well to windward and the boat behaves herself when you have to work on the foredeck. I have the sail set on the roller reefing gear, so that it can be disappeared quickly when necessary. I simply swapped the piston hanks for plastic mainsail bullets and made a strop for the head (so that the slider goes to the top of the foil).

Cheers! Neil

Neil Sinclair

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