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.

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.