Jib halyard up in the air - a solution.

[nightsky]

I was lowering my jib (1987 O'day 272) and did not tie a safety line to the halyard and lost it up into the air. I had read how people used a main halyard to loop around a lost "flying" halyard and bring it down. I tried this to no avail. The solution was pretty simple (and I guess pretty obvious with hindsight). I took my
boat hook (~15 foot) and pushed the line up it's sleeve till I could retrieve the free end.

[ahab211]

Seems like you found an easy solution. I had my main halyard come unattached when lowering the main. Took duct taping three poles and being lucky hooking it and pulling it down. I didn't realize how much tension I put on the fitting when raising and tightening the main with a winch. Now, ilI put on a screwed in heavy-duty fitting that won't release. I didn't want to go up in the chair or take down the mast. Live and learn.

[sailingdog]

That's an option on smaller boats... my boat's mast is 35' 6" tall from the deck... and I'm pretty sure it wouldn't work with any boat hook I've ever seen.

The solution my old sailing club had was simple....the guy who lost the halyard up the mast had to go up to get it... and buy a case of beer for the people on the boat...

I always recommend having one hand on the halyard unless you've made it fast to something. One friend of mine has a "bracelet" of 1/8" line that he clips or ties the halyard to until he's done with it...he used to buy a lot of beer.

[arf145]

A non-sailor friend came into town to visit and go sailing. He'd been studying a bit to cut the learning curve. When we got to the boat, he confessed he really only remembered one thing: Never let go of the halyard!