Lazy-Jack with Imoca feeling
We retrofitted lazy-jacks and were faced with the question of how to attach the two lines to the mast. Our choice fell on a home-made constrictor clamp. The principle is that the line to be held is fed through a sheathing braid and pinches there when pulled. We used a piece of the old mainsheet as the sheathing braid, from which we removed the core on one side. We then threaded both lazy-jack lines through it over a length of 30 centimetres. The ends then simply peeked out of the side of the sheathing braid. This is also necessary in order to be able to operate them. We tied the end of the sheet, which still contained the core, to the bottom of the mast under the kicker fitting so that it could not slip upwards. The improvised fitting was finished. The lazy-jacks can also be adjusted independently of each other and we didn't have to drill any holes in the mast.
Ulrich Miller, Ravensburg
Case secured in the bag
Furling sails are standard on many yachts, including ours. As the sails are only hoisted once a year and otherwise only rolled out or in, the halyards hang up on the mast. However, we were annoyed by the halyard wobble, so we thought about a solution to keep the mast tidy. A surplus fender cover, into which we tucked the shot halyards, proved to be a good solution. We fastened the bag under the boom with a Velcro strap around the halyard bag and mast. The rigging is now neatly stowed in the triangle between the boom and kicker and is also out of the way.
Thomas Fetzberger, Bargteheide
Backstage as Lazy-Jack
There are no lazy jacks on our fast touring boat with upper and lower backstays. Instead, we make do with the following trick: we have tied short loops to the backstays and attached small hooks to the main boom. During the recovery manoeuvre, we sail into the wind, then the boom is tied, the four backstays are tied and the loops are hooked onto the main boom. These lazy-jacks are tensioned by releasing the toggle, and the halyard can be rigged and the sheet tied between the backstays secured with toes.
Burkhart Bromm, Kiel
Do you have any advice for other sailors?
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