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| Home >> Technical >> Slipping halyard |
Hi Clive H,
As just measured:-
Halyard Primary - 1 m
Halyard Secondary - 11 m
This might seem long but it does mean I can lower the 9 sail whilst the boat is still afloat and not lose the halyard tail, fly away.
Another tip I have found very useful:-
In gusts and after a capsize I've found the 2'ry come off the mid mast button and start flogging on the luff of the sail; no 2'ry I've tried has stayed held in the lower mast cleat under all conditions.
Get a small hook and about 1/2 m of thin bungee, 2 or 3 mm.
Attach the hook by bungee to the forward cunningahm 2'ry block on the starboard deck organiser by the mast foot. I have looped the bungee through the eye of the block, & doubled it to the hook.
When you've pulled the sail up and passed the halyard round the mast button & through the lower cleat, then tie a short loop in the halyard 2'ry about level with the gooseneck. Use a slip knot, then attach the elasticated hook.
I have never had the 2'ry come off the mast button with this arrangement.
De-rigging: slip the hook and pull the slip knot loop out, then carry on as usual.
I've not timed this but I believe it is within the latest class rules.
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04/09/2019 10:21:00
Jonathan Rickels
Posts: 104
I had the same issues and tried a new Rs sheets with no better outcome.
I have recently swap the top halyard to the Rooster version and it works perfectly as the cord fits snug in the top cleat with no slip back
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04/09/2019 00:08:00
Mark1654
Posts: 13
I use a short length of Rooster Easy splice. I have splice the original small diameter black halliard into this, makes for very easy hoist. I also do as other suggest pulling forward to ensure it is fully in the top cleat. It has never give me a problem, even with serious amount of cunningham.
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15/07/2019 16:07:00
Mike0rea
Posts: 58
Thanks Jonathan. Thanks sounds perfect. P&B only have black or white Marlow D12 6mm at present but some cheaper 3mm 12 strand polyester I might use for the tail. Do you or anyone know the lengths of the two parts?
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It's part technique - in 2 stages:-
1. 1st haul & tighten - as per Lisa & David you really do have to reach forward with both arms outstretched, and pull hard down with the outer hand - making sure nothing is hindering the pull on the sail; i.e. tack strap above lower mast button, and no kicker whatsoever.
2. As per Gareth check the grip in the upper halyard cleat by pulling on downhaul, and holding. If downhaul doesn't return to pre-pull position the halyard has slipped, and you need to sweat it up again. Finally check by standing back & looking to top of mast. Any slip reduces the downhaul range!!
And partly the halyard primary rope itself!!
The halyard has to distort in order to fit the tapered jaws of the clam cleat.
The teeth of the cleat point upwards!! So in order for the primary to slide into the clam it must slide back!! You can check this by laying the mast down on the deck and feeding the halyard through, then grip the sailhead ball end and apply sail load & downhaul pressure on the pre-gripped halyard. You will see how much it moves in order to fit into the clam.
> 2 inches I found typical on the halyard rope supplied by RS on my early boat!!
A covered Dyneema replacement didn't slip much less!!
A bare 12 strand dyneema 6 mm rope for the primary has been >> better!!
https://www.pinbax.com/index.asp?mc=Rope&sc=Splicing%20Rope&ssc=6mm%20Splicing%20Rope
The Marlow is the one I use currently.
Sailing virtually 2 X per week for the past 3 years this has slipped only once, and then because I knew I hadn't pulled hard enough; 1 in 300!!
It beds in 1st pull and does not need a 2nd sweat. But I still check.
Tapered splicing to a 3.5 mm 2'ry / tail in the same rope gives a smooth passage through the Eye at the top of the mast & into the clamcleat. Visible wear on the outer fibres?
None so far!
I recommend it.
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03/07/2019 19:32:00
Jonathan Rickels
Posts: 104
First couple of sails I had similar problems. here's what I do now and never any problem.
Pull sail up. Pull halyard into top cleat. Apply MAX DOWNHAUL to stretch out the know (loop/ball). Sail will have dopped an inch or two. Uncleat allow to drop a shade and pull hard back up so you feel it hit the stop, pull forward into the top cleat. Apply MAX DOWNHAUL again (I pump it several times just grabbing the rope from the bottom pulley) to bed the halyard well into the top cleat before then releasing downhaul. Wrap halyard tail (thin rope) round mast mushroom and GENTLY cleat in lower cleat. DO NOT put tight into bottom cleat or you may loosen the top cleat (common mistake). The bottom one is only to tidy up the rope which should be slightly stretchy to allow for mast bend etc. It should not be taking any load.
I also have an elastic from downhaul top pulley block with a clip on the other end that I attach to a loop in the halyard just above the lower cleat to help release the downhaul. I don't actually have to use the lower cleat at all though I do put it loosely in there for tidiness.
The application of downhaul to bed into the top cleat before anything else is the key.
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03/07/2019 15:17:00
Gareth
Posts: 170
It’s a common issue. Make sure Cunningham is off and tack strap is above the button or not attached. Stand in front of bow with outstretched arms, one hand on mast, the other (gloved) hand reaching as far forward as possible. Then make multiple sharp jabs on the halyard, say half a dozen, rather than just trying to pull hard. That solved it for me.
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03/07/2019 07:15:00
david
Posts: 64
Hi,Clive
agree pulling hard is not enough
Try to pull but increasing the angle by pulling as much forward to facilitate the stop of the main rope
I Hope to have been clear enough
Enjoy yr Aero!
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02/07/2019 09:51:00
Aerobasol
Posts: 27
Hi everyone
Bit of a noddy question I know but cannot see it quite answered in any thread so far. I have a new boat only sailed a few times. Am finding my halyard slips as soon as I put any serious downhaul on. I do all the pull it up hard, cleat, downhaul and then pull again... but keep finding it slips a couple of inches still. The thin tail makes it hard to pull really hard and risk pulling the boat over anyway. What am I doing wrong? The rope in the cleat is hard and may need to soften... but hard to retire from two races so far as cannot pull up on the water.
Clive
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