Skills Afloat

Sailing Checklist #1

Check the Weather Report.

Sailing Checklist #2

Open the hatches and ventilate the boat.

Check below. If gasoline, stove fuel, or a holding tank for the head (toilet) are on board, the crew must check to make sure there are no fumes present before any flames are lit or the engine is started.

Sailing Checklist #3

Check the bilges and pump. The floorboards in the bottom of the boat should be lifted. They cover the bilge, and water will collect there from natural “sweating” of a closed boat, or from rain.

Use the bilge pump or a bucket and sponge to empty the bilge so the water won’t slosh around while you’re sailing.

Sailing Checklist #4

Make sure there is one PFD for each person aboard (option of Type I, II, III, or V), plus one Type IV.

Sailing Checklist #5

Stow all gear in a safe, accessible place.

Equipment must be close at hand in case of emergency.

Sailing Checklist #6

Make sure the horn or whistle is operational.

Sailing Checklist #7

Plan the day’s sail and course.

Sailing Checklist #8

Check the rigging and sails. 

Are the halyards clear and the sails ready to go? 

Are the battens in their pockets?

Check that all lines are uncoiled and ready and do not foul up in a block while you are attempting to leave dock. 

Sailing Checklist #9

Assign specific jobs to each member of the crew and spell out the goal for the day.

Mainsail Rigging Checklist #1

Remove the sail cover.

Mainsail Rigging Checklist #2

Attach the outhaul to the clew. 

Mainsail Rigging Checklist #3

Attach tack pin to tack.

Mainsail Rigging Checklist #4

Attach main halyard to head of sail.

Mainsail Rigging Checklist #5

Uncoil mainsheet.

Mainsail Rigging Checklist #6

Loosen boom bang. 

Jib Rigging Checklist #1

Attach jib to headstay.

Jib Rigging Checklist #2

Attach jib halyard to head.

Jib Rigging Checklist #3

Attach jib sheets to clew of jib with bowlines.

Jib Rigging Checklist #4

Lead jib sheets according to your particular boat’s design, either inboard or outboard of shrouds.

Jib Rigging Checklist #5

Lead jib sheets to winches.

Jib Rigging Checklist #6

Tie the jib to lifelines to keep deck clear and secure head of jib to lifelines or bow pulpit.

Winch Checklist #1

Before there is a strain on the line, make one or two clockwise loops around the drum.

Winch Checklist #2

Pull on the line hand-over-hand until the strain is heavy.

Winch Checklist #3

Make two or more clockwise loops, depending on the load.

Winch Checklist #4

Insert the winch handle. With one hand, rotate the handle. With the other hand, pull the line. Keep winching he line in until the halyard is hoisted or the sheet is trimmed properly. Be careful not to let fingers, hair, clothing etc catch in the turns.

Winch Checklist #5

Once the line is cleated, remove the winch handle from the winch. 

If it’s left in, it may trip somebody or fall out and be lost overboard.

Mainsail pre-raise notes

The mainsail should always be raised before the jib.

Decide on whether to raise the mainsail at the dock or while motoring out of the harbor based on wind conditions.

Check all shackles to make sure they are secure.

Keep enough slack in the mainsheet to make sure they can be fully hoisted.

Keep passengers and extra crew out of the way of the Boom.

Keep the mainsheet clear of winches, cleats, and the stern of the boat.

Mainsail raise preparation checklist pt. 1

Position one person at the mast at the point where the sail enters the luff groove.

Mainsail raise preparation checklist pt. 2

Position a second crew member at the end of the halyard, prepared to raise the sail.

Mainsail raise preparation checklist pt. 3

Position a third crewmember, if available, to keep the end of the boom from jumping around by controlling the mainsheet as the sail is raised.

Mainsail raise preparation checklist pt.4

Crew member in the cockpit should slacken the topping lift, the mainsheet, and the boom vang. Some boats use the main halyard for the boom lift, so someone will have to hold the boom while the sail is being raised. 

Mainsail raise preparation checklist pt. 5

Don’t begin hoisting until the bow is aimed directly into the wind, except on a smaller boat.

Mainsail Raise Procedure

When the skipper orders “Hoist the mainsail”:

• Wrap the main halyard once around the winch. 

• Release the sail ties. 

• Pull the halyard to start raising the sail. 

• Feed the luff of the sail into the slot to keep it from jamming. If it jams, lower the sail a few inches to hoist again. 

• The crew member on the halyard will keep pulling by hand until the sail reaches the top of the mast. Use the winch to raise the halyard if the sail gets too heavy to hoist. 

Completing Mainsail Raise

When the sail is at the top of the mast, take an additional wrap or two around the winch.

Place the winch handle in the winch and slowly turn until one vertical wrinkle appears in the luff of the sail, indicating proper tension. This wrinkle will smooth out when the boat is sailing.

Coil and stow the halyard.

The jib may be hoisted now, or hoisting may be delayed until the boat is in the open water if you leave the dock by power.