[MHml] hand holding mainsheets

[Philip Hart]

Bill
We do similar things. We have several "modes"

Obviously Sundreamer is a lot more stable than Afterburner but basically

The mainsheet is right by my forward hand. Usually it's cleated in the self 
tailer. If the wind is up a bit i turn the rope back on itself to make a 
quick release. In harder conditions i sometimes let a very experienced crew 
watch or hold it but usually i take it myself. I keep winch handles out of 
it. We almost capsized one when i got my wrist caught up in the handle. 
Shorthanded or with inexperienced crew i always control it

We will also have one person on the jib sheet and one on the traveller 
control. Usually just watching with the rope turned back on itself in the 
self tailer but in heavy conditions hand held.

It is most important to have the selftailer feeder facing towards the normal 
position of the helmsman or crewman using that winch. This enables you to 
engage/disengage ot take/release turns on the drum without it catching on 
the feeder tang


Philip




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Gibbs" <BillG at GibbsCAM.com>
To: <multihulls at steamradio.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 7:14 AM
Subject: Re: [MHml] hand holding mainsheets


> Bert,
>
> I learned sailing on beach cats, sitting outboard on the windward side, 
> facing inboard, mainsheet in fore hand, tiller in my aft
> hand.