Learn To Sail A Schooner No.8

The object is to reduce sail steadily and smoothly as the harbour is approached, maintaining speed for as long a possible and making up to windward,while avoiding having a last minute rush to reduce sail and overshooting.

Don’t know the names of the sails? Check out  Trinovante’s Schooner Sail Plan

1 Fisherman topsails off. These can be folded and bagged relatively early. this can be done quite quickly with a skilled crew.

2 Mizzen off. With the mizzen stowed we can still make to windward and tack if necessary. any disruption caused to the helmsman by being enveloped in the folds of sails is got over with early.

3. Staysail off. This is furled to the boom and lifted across to the weather rail, leaving the lee rail clear for stowing the jib.

4. Foresail off. Sufficient distance is now made to windward. With only the jib and mainsail now set we can still claw up a bit to windward if necessary.

5 Jib off. We are now effectively hove too Trinovante will slightly fore-reach with the helm locked while the crew stow the jib and ready the fenders and lines for docking. When we are ready we bear away and run down to the harbour getting the main of as we go.