Single-Handed Ariel

[John]

TP,


Drum Roll please.....It's called luffing... when you luff like that, you can grab a couple of inches on the jib sheet very easily.  Then just fall off.  Even if you are racing with a crew, it is a quick way to sheet in that last bit...instead of grabbing the winch handle.

FWIW, another technique is to tail the jib sheet with one hand and pull the section of sheet between the winch and jib clew at right angles to the sheet.  Then take up what you have gotten  with the other hand.  This works in  light and moderate air but you can't get much if it's really blowing.

If it's really blowing out and you need to take the sheet up a bit, and you have an extra person looking for an adventure, have them stand on the jib sheet right at the clew and jump up and down.  You can take a good bit up that way and not have to touch the winch handle.. This was more fun on the NY 32 that I crewed on way back when.