Grinding from the windward side

[greed]

Would there be any great disadvantage from running head sail sheets to the windward side of the boat and then to the windward winches? Could it be advantageous if the sheets were run to the stern, to deck blocks, across the stern and then back up to the windward winch? The grinder could have their weight on the high side and would better able to see and control the sail with out going back down to leeward. Gravity could be used more efficiently when pulling in the sail with body weight down into the boat not up into the boat or down and off side of the boat. I can think of a few other reasons why this may be better. All assuming self tailing winches
I have never seen a boat rigged like this. I wonder why?

[Nicholson58]

We do this for convenience as you note and sometimes for necessity if we run out of winches. Ketch with cutter staysail, mizzen staysail and pole rigged spinnaker.

[StuM]

Yep, we cross our sheets when racing short handed on a Farr 1/2 tonner. It gets the weight up to windward quicker and does make the grinding easier.

[Sailmonkey]

I've always cross sheeted on J24's

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Greed.

[JPA Cate]

FWIW, on our boat, if you were cranking on the uphill side, you couldn't see the genoa tell-tales. I refer to them a lot. Of course, there are only two of us aboard, so we do a lot of sequential singlehanding.

[mrohr]

Yep, a big help if alone. No need however, to add extra blocks and friction if genoa sheet is first lead to make a turn around the leeward winch and then across the cockpit to the windward side. Not something I do if short tacking, but on a longer leg when close hauled it can help keep your boat on her feet

............................love you all,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,mike,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[builder dan]

Mike is bang on the money thats how some racers do it over here

[ozskipper]

Ditto what all of those guys said. Plenty of people do it in a variety of ways depending on deck layout etc.