Normally I would say sheets should come onto the winch from a low angle and if the sheet is bunching up it's because of the angle of the tail being pulled off the winch.

I am also assuming you don't have self tailing winches?

You were mentioning in the other thread that your wife is using these winches while you steer?
Try this....once she has pulled all the slack in with 2-3 turns on the winch, put another turn on the winch (practice this in port) then pass the tail to you so you can tial while she winds the handle. you should be able to pull the tail up, stopping your problem.

Thanks Rumble......the problem occurs when winding on fast to take up the slack sail. It doesn't override
but the coils 'jump' up the drum and corrects itself then starts the same thing again.

Yeah I would say then the problem is a combination of two things, not tailing high enough and having too many turns on the winch to start.

This vid shows pretty well how to put more tunrs on under load


Also helps to have as much slack out of the new sheet as possible before commencing the tack.

samsturdy said..


Yes CR the sheet does run through a block on a track that runs along the the outside of the stanchions.
When close hauled the sheet is almost vertical from clew to block, hence, the question is should I raise
the block to lessen the angle to the winch.

This will alter the clew tension. Adjust the block along the slide till you get the three sets of tuffs to break at the same time. Sort out the angle to the winch another way.

Hi Sam

just to confirm when tacking at what point do you release the sheet and at what point does your wife stop pulling the opposite sheet on by hand and start using the winch handle

Regards Don

Good work everybody. Donk, I let go when the wind starts to take the sail across, Missus starts to pull at the same time,
she can pull it in a good way before the handle goes on, but we're not young remember and things tend to happen faster
than we are. Having said that, we're not doing too bad but as you know a sail full of wind is a mighty force so we probably
work a little too hard to ensure that things don't get out of control, not that it's going to kill us, but to gather in a flapping
sail against the breeze is a lot more work than keeping it under control in the first place. It's just that all this action takes
its toll on the oldies. Not complaining.......just saying.

Taking pictures while all this is going would be fun. I'll have to ask Missus if we have the technology!!.

samsturdy said..

The cars are pushed forward as far as practicable and I'm wondering whether I can raise the block by
putting a long shackle between the block and the car thereby lifting the sheet higher and reducing the
angle that the sheet comes on to winch.
What do you think.???

What SB said ^^

SB. The third drawing is how it looked originally (cars to far back). I've now pushed them forward to resemble
something like the middle drawing. My winches are set fairly well forward in the cockpit which made the angle the sheet came on
to the winch very steep, this has been rectified somewhat by pushing the cars forward but I feel it could still be improved
by raising the sheet blocks to give a much shallower slightly uphill approach to the winch.

Yara is perfectly correct of course, Missus and I are avoiding the mainsail because she needs time to get used
to the heeling action. I'm hoping that by the time I get the lazy jacks she will be more confident with heeling,
and on the promise that I can drop the mainsail immediately we can sail as per normal.
We are however having a lot of fun being out there just on the genoa and the little boat goes very
well on it.
So Yarra, I have got the message, but looking after Missus is a primary concern for me and if I have to go the long
way round I will do that. Softly softly catchee monkey.

Thank you Sir. Point very well taken. However, me and Missus have a bit of a commitment to local family
members and tend to do other things 'on the spur of the moment' so it's difficult to pin us down to a
time and place which is why we are reluctant to take up the offers only to cancel due to family. I find
it much easier to try, then ask and sort it myself than to exasperate by committing then cancelling.
There's no shortage of help in all it's aspects on this forum and I'm sure there many who like to write
their advice knowing they are helping to enllghten the inexperienced, and I enjoy reading it, whether
it's for me or not. I can only thank you all for answering my questions and I will still continue to ask
So Sir, be rest assured we are making progress well and truly
And at the end of the day there's a lot to be said for 'giving it a go'

Quite right. Keep trying.

The expression 'no strings attached' means if one turns up at 13.00 on a Wednesday after a notice, he is coming sailing, if not he does not come sailing.
Guests are not counted as crew.

Just send me a pm few days prior if you plan to tag along.

See you on the water. Fair winds!

Sam, keep asking questions mate. You are doing fine.

You wouldn't think the opinions vary too much, but often they do. So ask away, get several different ideas or techniques, and just get out there. If you have the opportunity to go midweek when there is likely to be less boating traffic even better.

Find a stretch of water or a quiet bay and just practice anchoring. Drop it, raise it, drop it raise it, try the different techniques and see what works for you and your wife. Give yourself plenty of time, and plenty of room. Sit there for a bit have lunch, see if you drift or if the anchor set properly (you've given yourself the room remember). Take note of what you anchored over and compare that to anchoring over a different seabed. Enjoy your lunch.

Check your PMs................. Don't stop asking questions, don't stop learning and don't stop having fun.............

You gotta love Toph!

Sound advice and makes me smile every time I see that avatar.