| If you are anything like me, a trip to the foredeck on a | | | | Ease the mainsheet all the way out. This way, the |
| pitching, rolling small cruising sailboat doesn't rate high on | | | | mainsail creates a huge wind block and puts the |
| your "most fun" things to do. Did you know that you | | | | headsail in an area of relative calm. Next, sheet in the |
| can use your mainsail to make this much safer and | | | | headsail close to the centerline. That keeps the |
| easier? Learn how to sail a boat better than ever | | | | headsail sheets from whipping back and forth and puts |
| before with these five easy steps for savvy sailing | | | | you in control. |
| skippers | | | | 3. Lower the Headsail |
| Even with roller furling or reefing headsails, there will be | | | | Furl the headsail. In extreme marine weather, remove |
| times when you need to go forward--or send your | | | | the furling sail and stow it below to prevent damage. |
| sailing crew to the bow. You may need to: | | | | Hoist a smaller headsail in the mainsail shadow. Sheet |
| * Fix a jammed roller furling line inside the drum | | | | in the new headsail close to the centerline to keep the |
| * Change to a smaller headsail in heavy weather | | | | sheets under control and out of the way of the |
| * Check your ground tackle | | | | foredeck crew. |
| * Prepare a full or asymmetrical spinnaker for hoisting | | | | 4. Return to the Cockpit |
| * Reef the headsail | | | | If you have the sea room, wait for all of your crew to |
| If takes a lot of effort and a slow pace to move from | | | | return to the safety of the sailboat cockpit before you |
| the safety of the cockpit to a wild, pitching foredeck. | | | | change course. That way, each crew member has a |
| Heeling, pitching and rolling combine to put your crew in | | | | stable, dry platform to work their way aft along the |
| peril--even when they're clipped on to jacklines. Make | | | | narrow side-decks. |
| this task drier, safer and easier with these simple | | | | 5. Round Up Back to Course |
| steps: | | | | Haul in the mainsheet, trim the headsail, and return to |
| 1. Fall Off the Wind | | | | your original sailing course. |
| Ease the sheets and fall off to a broad reach. Any | | | | Follow these five easy steps and you will learn to sail |
| sailing course off the wind will level the sailboat deck | | | | your boat better than ever before. Keep your crew |
| and create a drier, more stable work platform. | | | | safer, drier, and happier when you add this mainsail |
| 2. Ease the Mainsail | | | | shadow technique to your sailing skipper-skills. |