"Alan Gomes" wrote in message
...
Capt. JG wrote:
"Alan Gomes" wrote in message
...
Can't imagine they would catch the battens coming down. Our problem was
catching the battens going up.


Precisely. I often read of people who complain about the battens hanging
when raising the sail. But that's why I installed mine so I could pull
them to the mast, just because of the problem you have mentioned. I only
deploy them for dropping the sail, which is when I need them anyway. I
guess the issue with some setups is that they cannot be pulled forward
to the mast and kept out of the way; they just stay up all the time.

--AG

Ah... ok. Made me nervous. LOL This is the reason why I chose the other
system... yet more stuff to do. Do you have help or do you single hand?

I usually single hand. Sometimes even with non-sailing guests it amounts
to the same thing. :-)

It is true that I have to go to the mast to release the jacks before
dropping the sail. Takes less than 30 seconds. But it really does help
with flaking the sail, and actually keeps it secure enough so I could
dispense with sail ties until I get into the dock. But typically I put on
a few ties to hold it and then pretty it up when I'm back at the dock,
before I put on the sail cover. So while not perfect it is definitely a
net positive.

Alan Gomes


Yeah, I pretty much do the same thing with the dutchman. I pop the halyard,
give a couple of tugs to get the mail all the way down, then one tie with
the halyard captured underneath it. On the way back to the cockpit, I flip
the clew end of the main onto the boom, and it pretty much stays. If the
wind is really up, then I'll put another tie on near the leach.


--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com