How to Hoist the Mainsail

Back to Basics Sailing Tips

Here is how to hoist the mainsail on a Lagoon and similar catamarans. We walk you through what you need to do from leaving the dock to setting sail.

1. Prepare Sail Bag

Open sail bag
Check main halyard is attached to the head of the sail – ensure shackle is done up and secure
Follow our predeparture checklist prior to leaving
For manoeuvring of the dock find tips here

Factors to consider

Wind strength – if the wind is strong you will need to pre-emptively put in reefs
Wind direction
- Ripple direction (a good wind indicator for experienced sailors)
- Anemometer
- Windex

2. Turn into Wind

Ensure you have room
Travel at low speeds (enough to be able to use the rudder but without too much wind over the deck)
Turn on autopilot

3. Prepare sheets and halyards

Wrap main halyard on the winch
Open reefing lines if reefs were put in last time the boat was used
Ensure lines aren’t tangled
Loosen mainsheet so the wind is less likely to fill the sail

How to Anchor and Set Up an Anchor Bridle

4. Hoist

There are two ways to hoist

- Sweat and tail – a crew member will be needed to manually pull the main halyard on the mast while the captain tails the halyard, you will need to use the winch for the final part (fastest)
- Winch – single-handed and slow

Listen – if the winch loads up or there is unusual flapping sounds it typically means something is caught
Sight – Watch to ensure that the sail goes through the lazy jacks without getting caught
- Define Lazy Jacks – the small lines running from the mast to the boom bag which support and hold open the boom bag open
How to know the sail is up? The winch will load up. You can also put thin whipping twine as a marker to indicate the sail is at the top of the mast.

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