New Sailor Needs Advice On Rigging a Downhaul, Please

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by roverhi

Tried running the downhaul through the hanks. It lasted about 12 hours before the line parted from chafe. Seized a couple of thimbles to the sail to contain the line and all was fine. Without running the halyard and downhaul lines back to the cockpit, you'll still have to go forward to lower the sail. It does make it quicker to douse the sail as all you have to do is pull it down and cleat the downhaul, pull the skirt of the sail inboard and pull the sheet tight.

I assume you are dousing the foresail while you are more or less head-to-wind? In my limited experience using a downhaul, I rely on gravity and the sail to be flogging a bit to bring it down to deck, with the downhaul used mainly as a "starter" or "persuader". I've never had to pull on it particularly hard, and, head to wind, the sail just flakes onto the deck, particularly if you can get a second crew to sheet in on the favoured side a bit.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF,BumbleB.