Heavy Mainsail..?

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   Hi

We're proud 'new parents' to a 2012 385, and absolutely loving her.

We went for our first proper sail this weekend and found the mainsail very hard work to hoist (manual 2 speed winch on starboard side).
Once the sail had got to about half way up, I was into the 'easy gear' and then had to work hard to get her the rest of the way up.

The sail is pretty standard, fully battened.

I come from a Hallberg Rassy 29 which of course had a much smaller sail.

My question - does this 'work out' to manually winch up a mainsail sound about right?

Or - might I do well to check the halyard runs free, the mainsail runs free in the tracks etc?

(note - when I drop the sail she comes down very easily)

Many thanks

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Jonw Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 03 April 2022 Location: Gosport Status: Offline Points: 12	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jonw Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Heavy Mainsail..? Posted: 03 April 2022 at 18:49
	Hi We're proud 'new parents' to a 2012 385, and absolutely loving her. We went for our first proper sail this weekend and found the mainsail very hard work to hoist (manual 2 speed winch on starboard side). Once the sail had got to about half way up, I was into the 'easy gear' and then had to work hard to get her the rest of the way up. The sail is pretty standard, fully battened. I come from a Hallberg Rassy 29 which of course had a much smaller sail. My question - does this 'work out' to manually winch up a mainsail sound about right? Or - might I do well to check the halyard runs free, the mainsail runs free in the tracks etc? (note - when I drop the sail she comes down very easily) Many thanks

Matt1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 10 March 2019 Location: Hamble, UK Status: Offline Points: 727	Post Options Post Reply Quote Matt1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 April 2022 at 19:37
	Did your HR have Dacron sails and does the Hanse have FCL (Laminate). Laminate sails are appreciably heavier. I was going to suggest some dry PTFE spray on the mainsail cars / track but you said it comes down quite quickly. I’m assuming the reef lines are all nice and loose. I certainly have to winch my 418 main up from about 1/3rd hoisted, using the easier gear for the last metre or so
	Hanse 418 #64 EmBer. Hamble, UK

andrewlambert Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commander Joined: 14 January 2020 Location: UK Solent Status: Offline Points: 103	Post Options Post Reply Quote andrewlambert Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 April 2022 at 19:38
	Hey JonW Congrats great boat I have a 370 and came from a Sadler 29 so had same change as you from tiny main to large one Mine is battened with rollers goes up with no winch about 60 to 70 percent then if by possible we sweat it at mast but usllay needs winch for last 10 percent Half way for you sounds unusual sounds like you are checking the obvious stuff I have a similar issue with head sail but think the bolt rope is too thick
	Hanse 370 #237 "Ginger Bay" UK, River Hamble

H8jer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 14 September 2010 Location: Denmark Status: Offline Points: 1503	Post Options Post Reply Quote H8jer Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 April 2022 at 17:36
	I have tried different mainsails from North and the one without expensive car/rollers are easier to hoist. I use 10mm dyneema(hanse 370) But I hoist from the Mast and crew pull in the slack from cockpit. When almost at top the ropecluch is engaged and then tension is added with the winch. I feel the tension at the mast and yell out when it is enough. Then we adjust the outhaul and then the kickingstrap Edited by H8jer - 04 April 2022 at 18:36
	Hanse 370#487 30HP 3-cabin

perry Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 13 October 2015 Location: IOW Status: Offline Points: 318	Post Options Post Reply Quote perry Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 April 2022 at 18:31
	Hanse 315 and previously H301, both full battened main, yes heavy sails. We make first hoist from mast; this avoids the extra friction around deck organisers and foot blocks. After first hoist we reef and un-reef from cockpit no problem. When short handed I use a clam cleat fitted low on mast and when main hoisted I slip the halyard into cleat, return to cockpit and pull in halyard slack and tighten on winch. Important:--The clam cleat is positioned so the halyard pops out when winched, and doesnt catch halyard on dropping main. Note: Hanse Halyards are far too thick polyester. My Main Halyard 6mm Dyneema [H301] and 8mm Dyneema in h315. With hind-sight I should have fitted 6mm Dyneema on 315. Using the thin halyards of Dyneema has a big reduction of rope friction. Use dry lubricant on sail slides and batten cars regularly to help minimise friction and make for fast sail drops. Oh yes nearly forgot:- mark main halyard at Clutch to identify the drop points for first, second and third reef. Then when reefing drop to mark, makes reefing easy if you work with marks. Regards Perry Cowes Isle of wight Edited by perry - 04 April 2022 at 20:09
	Current Yacht Hanse 315 2007 Last Yacht Hanse 301 Round GB in 2017

Jonw Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 03 April 2022 Location: Gosport Status: Offline Points: 12	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jonw Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05 April 2022 at 09:50
	All really great and helpful replies! Thank you And more questions to come for sure!! Jon

415 Singapore Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Vice Admiral Joined: 23 September 2013 Location: Singapore Status: Offline Points: 935	Post Options Post Reply Quote 415 Singapore Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05 April 2022 at 12:53
	Hi, might be worth double checking that the topping lift and the main halyard aren't twisted around each other, quite hard to see from deck level, but when that happened to us it made an enormous difference. On our 415 we can sweat the main up most of the way and just need the winch for the last metre or so, but we do have the roller batten cars. Good luck Paul
	Paul - Night Train - 415 #136

Jonw Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 03 April 2022 Location: Gosport Status: Offline Points: 12	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jonw Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05 April 2022 at 13:58
	Thanks Paul, actually this could be the case since the main halyard was attached to the aft end of the boom over winter, and I recall peering up to see if I'd got it correct side of the halyard, so I'll pull this out and double check Thanks Jon

Ian2019 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 04 November 2019 Location: Montenegro Status: Offline Points: 191	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ian2019 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 June 2022 at 08:59
	HI Jonw Congratulations on your new baby!!! I had/have the same issue hard to get up, and it wouldn't drop very easily. As Singapore said check the topping lift. I found my topping lift twisted round the main sheet inside the mast, and after several unsuccessful attempts to try to unravel it I leave the topping lift really slack and have no problems lifting or dropping the sail. In fact I am debating whether to just get rid of the topping lift by just untying the boom end and pulling it through the mast at its exit point. Regards
	H385 #317 2014 Tivat Montenegro

S&J Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 30 August 2014 Location: Perth WA / Med Status: Offline Points: 1371	Post Options Post Reply Quote S&J Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 June 2022 at 09:30
	On the 385 I was able to get the FCL main with MDS cars about 2/3 - 3/4 of the way up from the cockpit when sailing solo before using the winch at all. When sailing with crew I usually bounce the halyard at the mast and if the crew is able to synchronise with me we get the sail on the 458 almost all the way to the top before winching. Beneficial not to use the winch until you need as it is much slower. (For reference I am moderately fit 62yo) Both boats drop the sail in seconds by preparing the halyard on the cockpit floor and opening the clutch quickly once head to wind. In stronger winds the sail movement may impede 100% drop. All this is made possible by the MDS cars. If your boat is pre 2015 it may not have the Selden rig so might be worth investigating alternative batten car options if you don't have these. Enjoy the 385. They are amazing boats.
	H458 #159 Primal Mediterranean cruising



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