Sailing Checklist - Sail Refresher

This checklist presents some key elements in basic sailing that need to be refreshed prior to the charter. Often sailors who regularly charter boats are not frequent in those charters. This list can help stir up the cobwebs that develop when we can't sail as often as we would like.

Sail Parts
- Clew
- Foot
- Head
- Leech
- Luff
- Tack
Setting Sails
- Roller Furler
- Winches
Sail Trim
- Outhaul
- Backstay
- Cunningham
- Sheets
- Traveler/Boom Vang
Reefing
- Ease the main sheet
- Lower the halyard
- Hook the luff grommet on the reefing hook
- Tighten the halyard
- Winch the leach reef line in tight - horizontal wrinkles along the foot - loosen the boom vang
- Trim in the mainsail
- Tie sail ties at the reef points
Shake Out a Reef
- Remove sail ties at reef points (failure to do so will result in a torn sail)
- Ease the mainsheet
- Release the leach reef line
- Lower the halyard
- Unhook the luff grommet from the reefing hook
- Tighten the halyard
- Trim the mainsail
Tacking
- Standby to Come About
- Ready About
- Hard Alee
- Through the Wind
- Boom Across
Jibing
- Standby to Jibe
- Ready
- Jibe-Ho
- Boom Across
Dousing Sail

The information presented in this sailing checklist is that which has been collected over years of boating experience. The information presented here, including the medical information, is not intended as professional advice; rather, it is a starting point for your own thinking and organization.
Copyright © 1996, Chuck and Chris Hanson

Created: 12/24/96
Last Updated: 2/25/98