Lunch

A 30 minute lunch break should be allotted at the appropriate time.  In many cases, lunch time will fall in the middle of the initial docking and motoring exercises.

The Mainsail

Recommended Sail Handling Exercises:

  1. Demonstrate and practice raising and lowering the Mainsail
  2. Demonstrate and practice putting in a reef
  3. Demonstrate and practice deploying and furling the Jib

All of the “Sail Handling” exercises should be introduced while tied head to wind at the dock, or on a mooring ball.

Sail Handling Terminology to Introduce

  • Mainsail
  • Head
  • Tack
  • Clew
  • Batten
  • Reef
  • Jib/Genoa
  • Foot
  • Luff
  • Leech
  • Batten Pocket
  • Cringle (Grommet)

Raising the Mainsail

With the boat positioned “head to wind” the skipper/Helms person issues the command to “Prepare to hoist the main”

The crew:

  • Removes the sail ties
  • Slacks the main sheet
  • Slacks the boom vang
  • Places approximately 3 wraps of the halyard around the halyard winch
  • Responds “Ready”
  • Skipper/Helmsperson issues the command “Hoist the main”

The crew will now raise the mainsail, pulling on the halyard by hand until it gets difficult, at which time a winch handle may be used for mechanical assistance.

Lowering the mainsail

With the boat positioned “head to wind”, the skipper/helms person issues the command to “Prepare to Lower (or douse) the main”.

The crew:

  • One crew positions him/herself forward of the mast, facing aft, with feet braced on either side of the cabin top.
  • One crew opens the halyard clutch while maintaining tension on the halyard.
  • Responds “Ready”

Skipper/helms person issues the command “Lower the main”

  • The crew will now pull the sail down, flaking the sail as neatly as possible as it comes down
  • When the sail is down and flaked on top of the boom, the sail ties should be put in place

Reefing the Mainsail

This exercise is demonstrated at the dock, or tied to a mooring ball.  Typically, reefing is completed while underway, however, it is important your crew understands a reef may be made under sail while close hauled, while raising the main, while at the dock, or even while hove to.

Steps to reefing

Remember reef early and reef often. If you think you should reef, you probably waited too long!

  • Ease the main.
  • Ease the main halyard while pulling down on the Reef Tack line.
  • When the reef cringle is at the boom, close the clutch on the main halyard to prevent it from lowering further.
  • Tighten the Reef Tack line, and put in a cleat hitch.
  • Tighten the Reef Outhaul, and put in a cleat hitch.
  • Trim the main halyard using the halyard winch.
  • Trim the main for point of sail

The Jib

Unfurling the Jib

The jib may be raised on any reach (a broad reach may be better in stronger wind conditions). However … the jib should always be furled while on a “deep” broad reach, where the main is blanketing and de-powering the jib.

  • While under mainsail, position the boat on a reach (close reach, beam reach, or broad reach)
  • Note:  This exercise may be conducted while head to wind at the dock and/or mooring ball to demonstrate and practice
  • Skipper/Helmsperson issues the command “Prepare to unfurl  the jib”
  • Crew:
    • Un-coil and un-cleat the jib furling line, preparing it to run freely
    • Prepare the “working” sheet to pull the jib out on the same side as the boom
    • Release the “lazy sheet”
    • Respond “Ready”
  • Skipper/Helmsperson issues the command “Unfurl the jib”
  • Using the jib sheet on the same side of the boat as the boom, the jib is pulled out as far as is desired, while maintaining resistance on the furling line
  • Once out, the remaining furling line should be securely cleated

Furling the jib

  • Position the boat on a broad reach, very close to a run (this will allow the mainsail to blanket the jib, reducing the pressure on the sail and running rigging.
  • Skipper/helms person issues the command
    “Prepare to furl the jib”
  • Crew:
    • Un-coil and un-cleat the jib furling line
    • Prepare to ease the “working sheet”
    • Respond “Ready”
  • Skipper/helms person issues the command “Furl the jib”
  • The “working sheet” is eased while the jib furling line is pulled in, causing the sail to roll around the forestay.
  • Continue to furl until two wraps of the sheets can be seen around the furled jib. 
  • Cleat and Coil the furling line.

A reef can be placed in the jib by partially furling the sail and cleating the furling line.

Getting Under Sail

New Terms to Discuss

  • Points of Sail
    • No-Sail Zone – Head to Wind – In Irons
    • Close Hauled
    • Close Reach
    • Beam Reach
    • Broad Reach
    • Run
  • Heading Up
  • Bearing Away
  • Tack/Tacking
  • Ready About
  • Jibe/Jibing
  • Jibe Ho
  • Port Tack
  • Starboard Tack
  • Luffing
  • Prepare to Jibe
  • Jibe
  • Helms a-lee
  • Heel

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Sailing Under Main Alone

The remainder of day 1 should be spent learning and practicing the following basic maneuvers under mainsail only.  Each participant should practice each of these skills from each of the crew positions onboard.

  • Heading Up
  • Bearing Away
  • Reaching
  • Close Reach
  • Beam Reach
  • Broad Reach
  • Sailing Close Hauled
  • Tacking (close reach to close reach)
  • Jibing (broad reach to broad reach)

Discuss sail Trim (at all points of sail)

If conditions and the participants’ skill level allow, sailing under main and jib may be introduced on day 1, however, most classes sailing should be under main alone on day 1.

Initially, the helms person should be located on the windward side of the boat during sailing while tacking/jibing.  As each maneuver is completed, the helms person should move to the windward side.

Tacking Under Main Alone

  1. While on a Close Reach or Close Haul … helms person checks for traffic and obstacles in the area the boat will be turning into.
  2. Helmsperson issues the command “Prepare to Tack”.  An alternate more traditional command is “Ready About”.
  3. Crew will make sure they are safely positioned, and respond “Ready”
  4. After all crew have responded “Ready”, the helmsperson will announce “Helms-a-lee” (or “Tacking”), and move the tiller to the leeward side of the boat to begin the turn.

As the boat turns, the main will begin to luff, and move to the other side of the boat.  When the main is on the new side, and filled with air, the helms person will straighten the tiller stopping the turn.

Steps for Jibing under main alone.

  1. While on a Broad Reach … Helms person checks for traffic and obstacles in the area the boat will be turning into.
  2. Helmsperson issues the command “Prepare to Jibe”. 
  3. Crew will make sure they are safely positioned.  One crew member will take up the main sheet, and all will respond “Ready”
  4. After all crew have responded “Ready”, the helms person will announce “Jib-Ho”).  NO MOVEMENT of the tiller should be made at this point.
  5. The crew handling the main sheet will begin to briskly haul in on the main sheet, to bring the boom to the center of the boat, making sure the sheet is NOT CLEATED”
  6. As the boom nears the center of the boat, the helmsperson will begin a slow turn away from the wind (if on the windward side … by pulling toward him/herself)
  7. As the boat turns past dead downwind, the main will quickly move to the other side, at which point the main sheet trimmer will smoothly and quickly allow the main sheet to run out until the mainsail is correctly trimmed for a broad reach
  8. When the boat is on a broad reach, the helmsperson will center the tiller, stopping the turn.

On the Capri 22s, a crew member on the leeward side should take up the main sheet … this will help facilitate release of the sheet from the cleat while the boom crosses over.

Clean Up

Boat Clean Up

The quality of boat clean up by members is directly related to the clean-up instruction received during class.

Use the Post-Cruise List to walk through the process of putting the boat away. 

Typical time allowance following a day sail in one of the Capri’s is 30 minutes.

Boat clean-up will be required at the end of each sailing day.

Back in the Classroom

As time allows

  • Answer any questions your class might have
  • Review topics from the day
  • Set expectation for the next class day
BKB Day Two