sailboat seamanship 199
and then back to a cleat or winch in the
cockpit. Pass the preventer outboard of all
lifelines and shrouds.Boom Overload Protection
As important as the preventer may be, too
much tension could cause a distorted or
snapped boom. Keep an inch or two of slack
in the preventer line or block and tackle to
prevent most problems. In heavy air, fashion
a small 9- to 12-inch strop as a weak link. Use cotton small stuff, rotted line,
or doubled bungee cord.
With block-and-tackle preventers, attach the strop between the deck
padeye and the tackle. With end-of-boom preventers, lash the strop to the
boom and then attach the preventer to the strop.
How to Short Tack in a Narrow Channel
Know your boat and crew intimately—their capabilities, strengths, and
idiosyncrasies.Most modern sailboats are capable of tacking in narrow channels less than
100 yards wide. But you must know your boat and crew intimately—their
capabilities, strengths, and idiosyncrasies. When short tacking, you have
to sail upwind through a narrow expanse of water. The crew has to work
together quickly and smoothly, for as soon as one tack is completed, it’s likely
you’ll have to get ready to execute the next one! Let’s look at the successful
techniques I’ve used time and again with experienced and inexperienced
crews.
SIMPLE COMMANDS AND THE IMPORTANCE
OF BACKWINDING
Before taking on a narrow channel with a new crew, practice short tacking
in an area that challenges the crew to work as a team. Rotate each person
through the sheet-trim position and the helm. Decide on a group of tacking
A bird’s-eye view of an end-of-boom preventer on
a large sailboat.