LDC Racing Sailboats RS200 Owner's Manual - page 5
5
handed, however, it is possible to step the mast with the shrouds already
attached.
Warning:-
The forestay on the RS 200 is intended solely to support the mast
when ashore without sails hoisted. Do not attempt to sail the boat without a
fully hoisted and tensioned jib. Should the jib fall down or lose tension for any
reason return to shore as quickly as possible sheeting the mainsail only
lightly.
Normally, before lowering the mast:-
(1)
Un-reave the spinnaker halyard tail right back to the exit slot in the
mast.
(2)
Make a large bowline in the fall of the halyard.
(3)
Pass the whole of the tail of the halyard through the loop of the
bowline.
(4)
Keep hold of the bitter end of the halyard tail
(5)
Pull on the halyard where it exits from the mast slot, hoisting the
bowline up the mast taking a loop of the tail with it.
(6)
When the halyard has got to the end of its travel the end can now be
secured at the exit slot with a couple of half hitches.
(7)
Any remainder can be wrapped around the mast or used to secure the
shrouds etc.
This method of securing the spinnaker halyard when de-rigging has the
advantages of keeping everything tidy when lowering or stepping the mast.
More importantly it does not require a lot of winding or coiling which helps to
keep the halyard twist and kink free when sailing.
The Sprit is fully rigged and set at the factory but you should see the sections
below, on operating and rigging the Sprit for details of operation.
Reaving the spinnaker halyard
If you have dressed the spinnaker halyard on the mast as recommended
above:-
(1)
Untie the hitches and pull the halyard down.
(2)
Keep the bowline on the end of the halyard and hook it over a handle
of the launching trolley. This is a precaution to ensure the halyard is not
inadvertently pulled up the mast, or worse still, pulled through the top sheave.
(3)
Feed the tail of the halyard directly from the exit slot forward through
the outer (unsprung) pulley at the aft end of the sprit tube.
(4)
Pass it around the single block attached to the pole launch line,
situated toward the front of the tube.
(5)
Pass it back through the fairlead and cleat at the inboard end of the
sprit tube.
(6)
Lead the halyard tail, which is now the downhaul line, via the block
fitted close to the port forward end of the centreboard slot and directly back to
the turning block at the aft end of the spinnaker sock.