You are outbound for a perfect sail on a perfect day. Have you checked these seven often-missed pieces of sailing gear? Better do it now, skipper!
Have you checked your small sailboat for sailing for the day, the week, or a month? When you learn to sail, you will need to know just what it takes to make sailing safer and more fun. Add these seven often-forgotten sailing tips to your pre-sail checklist to make sure you are ready to sail!
1. Check your Cotters for Integrity
Look over those nautical bobby-pins called "cotter-pins". Every part of your sailing running rigging has these fittings that pin the rig together. If one fails, your mast could come tumbling down too. Start at the bow and work aft. Check headsail furling gear, stay and shroud end swage fittings, lifeline turnbuckles and gates, boom vang blocks, traveler gear, and mainsheet fittings.
2. Tape Lifeline Gates for Security
Do your lifelines have turnbuckles for end fittings--or the more dangerous pelican hooks. Don't put too much faith in a bail to keep the pelican hook in place. Tape the hook to the sleeve for a more secure, seaworthy fitting.
3. Lead Lines Smooth and Fair
Start at the bow and work aft. Check the lead on the headsail furling drum line back to the cockpit. Then return to the bow and check the Genoa sheet leads from the clew back to the sheet or turning blocks. Make sure that each Genoa sheet leads at an upward angle from the block to the primary sheet winch. This will prevent overrides (jams) and big headaches later on.
4. Stave Off Chafe at the Pass!
Wear and tear are a constant element at sea, whether in a sail or power boat. But because sailors use cloth, canvas and much more sailing rope than their powerboat cousins, chafe tends to be much more of a problem aboard.
Check every line that passes over the hull, around a corner chock, through or over a block, or near a surface that it might rub against. Replace worn line right away so that it doesn't break when you least expect it--under the heavy loads of sailing.
5. Anchor Ready to Go?
The least checked--and most important item--on any boat or ship or any size resides up at the bow. Did you know that less than 5% of all sailors bother to check their anchor and anchor gear? In an emergency it's your #1 insurance policy. Your anchor will keep you from going aground, stop your boat if you lose an engine, and could prevent a collision with another boat. Spend at least three minutes at the bow.
Check the anchor flukes and shank (long arm) to make sure they are straight and true. Use pliers to work each shackle back and forth to make sure it has good integrity. Pull out at least 10 fathoms (60 feet) of anchor line (also called "anchor rode"). Look over the line inch by inch, and turn it over as your scan it. Look for wear and chafe.
Do not use the line if chafed. Replace it and you will sleep better at night when you know that your anchor ground tackle (the anchor and all of it's combined parts) has good, solid, seaworthy integrity.
6. Reef Now to Save Grief Later
No matter whether there's a light zephyr that barely moves the water. Set up your mainsail for reefing now--before you cast off that first line. Reeve (weave) the tack reef line through the tack reefing cringle (grommet or ring).
Allow plenty of slack so that the mainsail goes up without binding. Repeat the process with the clew reef line. Now you are ready in an instant to jiffy-reef your mainsail and have saved yourself tons of time exposed at the mast when the sailing weather pipes up.
7. Make Halyards Hoist Tangle-Free
Unclip the mainsail (and headsail) halyard from the rail. Lead it so that it clears all shrouds, stays, flag halyards, lazy jacks, and spreaders. Attach it to the head of the mainsail (and headsail if not already attached).
Stand back and site up the mast from the halyard shackle up to the masthead. You should see a straight, continuous line all the way to the top of the mast. Now you can hoist or douse your sails smooth and easy every time.
Use these seven often-forgotten sailing tips to make sailing more fun and hassle-free. Learn to sail like a pro from the get-go to build your sailing skills faster than you ever thought possible--guaranteed!
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