Matt Waite wrote:

I'm the bloke that bought Mariposa from Peter Scandling, and I've pretty much finished the refit that Peter started (he did most of it, I've really just been 'accessorising' her).

She's being plonked back into her proper watery environment next Tuesday the 14th April, and I plan to go on numerous shakedown sails around the Plymouth UK neighbourhood.

Chris Gallienne had kindly offered to come along and show me what all the string does, but he's been called away for work.

Anybody else in the neighbourhood in the mood to come for a sail or two to help me get the hang of the lovely Mariposa?

Wish I could Matt.  Congratulations in getting afloat anyway.  It would be nice to have an advisor, but, as one who taught himself how to handle junk rig, (with a lot of reading) I can tell you it is pretty straightforward.  I never hoist sail when the wind is aft of the beam unless the winds are very light. I either point the bows into the wind or I lie ahull.  Haul on the halyard while making sure the sheet, yard-hauling parrel and throat or luff-hauling parrel are free to run out as the sail goes up.  If you are hoisting the full sail, hoist the sail until the tack line is just taking up tension or the boom starts to lift out of the mast lift.  Then haul in the yard-hauling parrel, followed by the throat/luff parrel and lastly the sheet.  Away you go!  If hoisting a reefed sail, haul up unto the desired batten is just above the boom and then do as above.  I do controlled gybes, push the tiller across with my knee and haul in on the sheet with gloved hands.  As the sail comes across I let the sheet run out through my gloved hand, acting as something of a soft brake.  I leave the sheet cleated, just flaking the sheet I haul in onto the cockpit seat.  To reef, I feather the sail, ease the halyard until the desired batten is just above the boom, take slack out of the yard-hauling parrel,then the luff parrel and then lastly the sheet.  When furling altogether, I take slack out of the parrels and sheets progressively, one panel at a time, to stop tangles and the possibility of the sheet going over the side and around the propeller, if the engine is running (it usually is).   Good luck and happy sailing!