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How to Rig the Mainsail on a Sailboat

Rigging the headsail on a sailboat is a fairly complicated process, particularly for first-timers, but ensuring that the mainsail is rigged correctly will save you some problems when you are out on the water.

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    Difficulty:
    Moderately Challenging

    Instructions

    Things You'll Need

    • Mainsail with sheets ropes and lines
    • Sailboat
      • 1

        Remove your mainsail from its bag and spread it out on the deck.

      • 2

        Locate the 3 corners of your sail--head (top), tack (bottom inside) and clew (bottom outside).

      • 3

        Attach the tack to the base of the mast with the forestay.

      • 4

        Attach the bottom of the mainsail to the boom, if applicable.

      • 5

        Release the halyard from its cleat.

      • 6

        Attach the halyard to the headboard at the head of the mainsail.

      • 7

        Feed the mainsail into the groove in the mast.

      • 8

        Take the slack out of the halyard and secure it into a cleat.

      • 9

        Tie the sheet to the clew of the boom with a bowline.

      • 10

        Coil your lazy sheets flat and lay them in the cockpit or hang them on a cleat.

      • 11

        You are now ready to raise the mainsail.

    Tips & Warnings

    • Tie bowlines for your knots--they are secure and easy to undo.

    • Make sure your sheets are free from tangles.

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