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[email protected] dougking888@yahoo.com is offline
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Feb 2007
Posts: 900
Default Seamanship Question #42

On Oct 18, 4:08*pm, Bart wrote:
What is the proper way to rig a mainsail jibe preventer? *1 pt

Assume you do not have a boom brake.


Never rigged a preventer on a boat I was sailing, but I have seen
other people do it and of course diagrams in sailing manuals etc etc.
You're supposed to lead the line far forward on the boat, such as to a
bow cleat, and then to the end of the boom. That way it will not cause
the boom to crumple if it takes a strain from a gybe or if the boom
dips into a wave when the boat heels. The line should also be led aft
so it can be released from a convenient point like the cabin top or
cockpit, so that if you need to gybe quickly, it can be cast off.

I don't particularly like preventers, of the times I have seen other
use them about half came to grief one way or another. I did
accidentally gybe a boat myself in hard going, when dodging a bit of
debris in the water that loomed up in the glow of the running
lights... managed to dodge the obstacle (it looked like a large metal
fishing mast, suggestive of a sunken boat right there) and when
gawking aft at it after we passed it, gybed the boat. No damage, just
slightly embarassing... if we'd hit that mast (or whatever it was)
we'd have gone down like a rock... certainly one of the closest calls
I've ever had while sailing, so I don't feel too bad about the gybe
afterward

Fresh Breezes- Doug King