"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote in message
...


People who use real sails and know how to sail and change headsails can
tell just by looking and listening when a storm is coming up. We prepare
in advance by hanking on a storm jib below the lower hank on the working
jib and storing it lashed down in it's little Sunbrella bag.

You have forgotten that your 'working jib' has to have its tack fastened to
the stemhead fitting so you cannot do what you suggest unless your 'working
jib' has a wire at the tack long enough to allow it to set above your 'storm
jib' hanks which means that the foot of the sail will be well clear of the
deck. So your 'working jib' must of necessity be a small and inefficient
sail because in modern yachts only the actual storm jib has such a wire to
lift it clear of the deck to avoid lumps of water hitting the sail.

needs to do to change sails is to lower the working jib, unsnap the
tack, snap on the storm jib tack, snap the halyard off the jib and onto
the head of the storm sail, untie and transfer the sheets, stuff the jib
into the bag and unclip the working jib hanks.

Now I know you have never done it in a storm. Stuff the sail in a bag on
deck in strong wind?!!! You would breath a sigh of relief if you succeeded
in stuffing it down the fore hatch without losing it oveboard

Then snap on the storm
jib hanks

You said the sail was already hanked on...


The secret to safety and no hassles is to reef sooner rather than later.

Well, you are right there at least.