BOSUN’S BAG
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR THE TRADITIONAL BOATERWORDS TOM CUNLIFFE ILLUSTRATION MARTYN MACKRILL
When it’s time to stow the mainsail on all but the largest classic
yachts, three methods present themselves. There’s the set-piece in
flat water with the wind either non-existent or blowing gently
from ahead. The ‘scramble’ is usually executed at sea with the
wind anywhere but where we want it. Lastly comes the great
problem-solver, the lazy jack system. Apart from the extra spar,
gaff and Bermudan differ little except when grappling with the
scramble, so let’s start with that.
THE SCRAMBLE
I think my most demanding scramble turned up one mid-ocean
night in a cutter with a 30ft boom, a 28ft gaff and a sodden
800sq ft flax mainsail. A whole gale had risen from nothing and
the main had only a single tuck. We were limbering up for the
deep reef when the wind cranked up to storm force. The sail had
to come down. With the sea that was running, the boat would
lie beam-on once the main was off her, so the gaff would go
bananas. In such conditions, the engine was an irrelevance yet
the boat had to be luffed for long enough to secure the gaff to
the boom. Somehow, we stuffed her into the wind and let the
halyards go at the run. She carried her way just long enough
for us to clap a tie around the spar. With the gaff end secured
to the boom, we still had to cobble in the thundering, homicidal
canvas, but at least we weren’t being beaten to death by the gaff.
In the absence of gallows, we lowered the aft end of the boom to
the deck, following suit with the peak halyards. Then we lashed
the spars so the framework was rock solid before attacking the
canvas. Four of us started at the luff where the sail was least
dangerous. We bundled up a few feet and got a stout tie on.
Next, we moved aft a short way and so on until it was stowed.
Not a pretty sight, but nobody went over the side and nothing
carried away. A Bermudan sail would have been easier but the
same technique – minus the fun-filled ‘gaff factor’ – would serve.
THE SET-PIECE
In calmer conditions, motoring slowly upwind or lying to a
mooring offer similar options. Where no lazy jacks are rigged,
the best stow will be obtained by having nothing to do with
the modern fetish of flaking the cloth. Instead, drop it so it
all falls on one side. If it’s a gaff sail, secure the gaff so it is
parallel to the boom and, depending on the size of the sail,
anything from six inches to two feet clear of it.
Either rig can now receive the same treatment, beginning by
laying the sail ties over the boom so they hang down on both
sides, nicely spaced out. If the foot is laced, slip them between
boom and bolt rope. Send the strongest sailor to the leech to
heave it out, leaving the sail free of wrinkles. Grab hold of the
leech a foot or two off the boom. This will form a long “bag”
between the foot of the sail and the spar. With a loose foot some
care will be needed, as the foot itself will form the bottom of the
bag rather than the laced-up spar. Now, pulling aft all the time
and working from foot to head, roll the bunt of the sail into
the bag in big bights. As the head of the sail approaches, these
will get smaller until there is nothing left. If the sail is Bermudan,
you’ll need a few hands to hold the roll in place or to take over
the leech as it moves forward towards the head. In either case,
once the roll is complete, shake it well down into itself to tighten
it, then forcibly roll it up on the boom. Once it’s on top, pass
the ties and secure with slippery hitches. A gaffer’s ties run
under the foot of the sail and over the top of the gaff. No ties
pass beneath the boom. A loose-footed sail can be hove up just
clear of the boom with the peak halyards for a stylish look.
A three-cornered sail stowed like this will have a seamanlike
aspect, with no wrinkles and not a bulge to be seen. The gaffer
has further options depending on local fashion or the mate’s
fancy. Norwegians tend to hoist the outer end of the gaff higher
than the throat, taking the loose-footed sail with it. Brits often
go for the parallel look. Others pull the throat a little way up
then let the gaff fall away aft until it is close to the boom. I
rather like this myself, but each to his or her own.LAZY JACK
Time was when these were clumsy lines spliced into the topping
lifts and passing beneath the boom. They helped to control the
sail, but they were always messy. Today, we can tame our mains
successfully using tastefully chosen modern lines. Two single
blocks are seized aloft in a convenient place. The “jacks”
start with their own lightweight halyard somewhere near the
gooseneck, passing up through the blocks and down to a pair
of thimbles well below them. Further light lines run through
these with secondary thimbles seized on either end. The four
working parts now pass through these secondaries down to
small, evenly spaced eyelets screwed to the boom under the
foot of the sail, then back up to the other side. It pays to seize
their mid-points to the eyelets. Properly thought out, they
will hold the lowered sail tidily to await a permanent stow.
If they are in the way when you’re on show or sailing, ease
the halyard, grab the bights of the jacks and pull them forward.
Hook them onto something and set up the halyard. They
disappear along the boom.
There’s only one snag. To stow sail inside lazy jacks,
you’ve little choice but to flake it!