Running Sheets on CAL 2-27

[chesapeakecal227]

We have a 1975 Cal 2-27. Could any fellow owners offer advice or diagram about the best way to rig the running sheets?

There is only one wench on the mast, which can not manage both the head sail and main sail halyards at the same time.

The boat has been fitted with two additional wenches on the cabin (primarily for the chute).

Any suggestions or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

[sailingdog]

If you have three wenches aboard, you must not be married. Winches on the other hand might be useful equipment.

Where are the jib sheet fairleads?? If they are inside the shrouds, the sheets should run inside the shrouds. This is usually the case with jibs. With Genoas, the tracks are usually outside the shrouds and the sheets should be lead outboard of the shrouds as well.

Be aware, that some Cals, especially if they were rigged for single-handed racing, may have the coaming winches setup for cross sheeting, rather than regular sheeting and will tend to override if you run the sheets from the turning block to the winch on the same side. Cross sheeting allows the single-handed sailor to sit on the high side and control the genny sheets from there.

[nolatom]

You need good tension on the jib halyard, and pretty good tension on the main halyard.

With only one mast winch (and no photo to guide me) I'd suggest you use the winch for the jib. I guess you're hauling the main by hand. Get it as tight as you can, and cleat it (you have a mast cleat, right?). Then get a block and tackle arrangement and hook it to the Cunningham cringle (the one a few inches up from the tack cringle. Then haul down on that and you'll get your luff tension--less for light air, more for heavy air.

The other two winches are for jib sheets. Just lead them so they don't saw on the sidestays or the lifelines.

Best I can tell you without seeing the boat.

[sailingdog]

BTW, you can often sweat the main sail up the final bit.