Cruising - Skills in Handling Sails

• Loading Winches
  A Winch is a device used in winding up a Sailing Line or rope. In Sailing, it is used to increase the hauling capacity in hoisting Sails as well as in Sail Trimming.
  
  The crank or body of a simple Winch is called Winch drum. A handle on top of the Winch is used in winding the Line.
  
  In using a standard Winch, two persons need to work hand in hand. Learn how to load a standard Winch:
  

• Look at the empty Winch drum and check which way it spins freely. This is important since the rope should be loaded to the Winch in the same way or direction that the Winch drum rotates.
• Keep your fingers away from the Winch drum. Load the Winch by putting three full turns. This is to provide resistance when loading the Line.
• At this point, the other person can start winding while the first person keeps on tailing. The first person should hold the Line below the handle as the second person is winding.

• Handling Sheets
  

  Winches control large loads, so be extra careful when easing or releasing Sheets.



• How to ease the Sheet
  Uncleat the tail of the Sheet. Push the heel of your other hand against the turns to keep the Sheet under control as it slowly slides from the Winch drum.
• How to release a loaded Sheet
  Release the tail of the Sheet from the cleat. Give a sharp tug upwards to release the coils from the Winch drum.


• Hoisting a Headsail
  A Headsail is a sail flown and set forward of the Mast. Here are the steps in raising a Headsail: Use a Halyard and a Halyard Winch to raise the Headsail. Put one turn on the Winch to hoist the Sail. Add more turns when necessary. Tighten and cleat the Halyard. If you have a furling Headsail, you can hoist it by pulling on the right Jib sheet.


These are just a few of the Basic Skills in Handling Sails. It is important to understand the principles on How Sails Work and learn these skills to avoid sail problems due to improper ways of handling them.