Did you know that you can learn to sail with better power and drive when you know the secrets to use your sailboat winches? Or that you can make a simple change in winch handle length to make winching safer and easier? Here are five little-known sailing secrets you can put into play right away to put more fun into your sailing day.
1. Lead Sheets and Halyards Up to a Winch
Have you ever had a Genoa sheet jam onto the winch drum. Imagine that you are in the middle of a tacking maneuver and now you have a sheet stuck like a barnacle on a piling. First, check the Genoa sheet leads from your Genoa blocks to the sailing winch. To prevent line jams (called an “override”) lead the line from the block in an upward direction to the drum on the winch. Keep the angle that the line makes with the sailing winch drum greater than 90 degrees. This helps to keep the drum wraps together to prevent an override from jamming up your sailing day!
2. Put on the Right Number of Wraps
Wrap the sheet or halyard two to three times in a clockwise direction around the winch drum. This encourages the line to grip the drum like a clam. As you wrap the sheet or halyard onto the winch, keep them butted up against one another. This makes working any winch smoother and easier.
3. Choose the Best Size Winch Handle
Make your winching (grinding) job easier when you choose the correct handle length. Choose a winch handle equal to 4X the radius of the winch drum. Measure the distance from the center of the drum (where the winch handle inserts) out to the smooth surface of the drum (where the line wraps). For example, if you measure 2.5″, then you should choose a 10″ winch handle. This technique will save you tons of sweat equity and energy.
4. Hover Over or Close to the Sailing
Stand, squat or kneel over the sheet winch so that your shoulders are above the drum. This may not be practicable on some sailboats because of the winch location. In that case, squat so that you face the winch with the sheet or halyard tail perpendicular to the drum. This alternate method will help keep the turns together on the drum and you can work the winch without strain.
5. Ease or Release a Halyard or Sheet
To ease a sheet or halyard, place the open palm of your non-dominant hand flat against the back of the winch drum. Press down with moderate pressure against the wrapped line. Keep your fingers straight and flared out from the winch. Ease the line out as you apply light pressure. This keeps the sheet or halyard under control without jamming.
To release the sheet or halyard from the sailing winch, pull the sheet or halyard straight up, in line with, and away from the winch drum. Use a counterclockwise twirling motion with your wrist to help the line come off the winch drum with ease.
Learn to sail like a pro with these five super sailing tips used by savvy sailors everywhere. Boost your skipper skills to new heights and make your sailing better and easier than you ever imagined!