The main sheet can from time to time be hauled in to produce a little drive as
part of the manoeuvring process, as required. Never while under way should
the mainsheet or the helm be unattended. That doesn't mean you may not use
devices like tiller tamers or tricks like scandalising. It means that you
keep yourself aware of what's happening ALL the time. You must use them for
what they are worth, IF they are appropriate. Many capsizes have been caused
by unattended sheeted in and cleated mainsails. Perhap I should also say that
Potters were designed to have the centre-plate/board lowered all the time,
except when in very shallow water. Mine [galv. steel] stays down when at
anchor or on a mooring except when I know that the tide will leave us dried
out at some time. Stability is thus not compromised.
Scandalising is a old salt's gaffer term any way, not really for bermudan
rigged sloops like mine. To quote the OUD, scandalising is ' To reduce the
area of a sail by lowering the peak and tricing up the tack'. My method only
raises the leach and then on a very temporary basis. Reefing (to or around
the boom) will reduce the area of sail exposed in a bermudan (marconi) rig.
See also Lee Page's recent remarks.
Good sailing
Bruce Longstaff
URSA MINOR AX06
UXBRIDGE GB
Terms: Peak - self evident, Tack = lower forward corner of a sail, Leach =
aftmost lower corner of a sail, Luff = forward or windward edge of a sail.