David Thatcher wrote:Did not Confucius say 'if mainsheet can catch on something mainsheet will', or maybe it has something to do with Murphy's Law.

That is indeed my understanding :-)

Johnathan & Tony, Thanks for the advice and the photo references, I'll keep them in mind as I go forward and start sailing. It may be that I will not need to do anything and as I have enough on my plate, I'll put that concern aside for the moment.

Rob, I have not forgotten about double sheets. However, I'm going to try single sheets first. I am near 100% certain that I will have to use double sheets on the Foresail but I'm hoping to get away with single sheets for the main. It will just reduce the amount of line that needs to be handled.


Brian, I used the Hunter type arch for Aphrodite but in LC's case I cannot use it as the sheet will go chock a block before a panel is fully reefed but thanks for taking the trouble and mentioning it.

I know Annie has had issues with her sheet and the windvane but do not know if she has attempted to do anything about it. Maybe she'll let us know one day :-)

Hi Paul, There is always double sheeting. Since we changed we have not had any foulups. The cockpit can be set up with any sun awning/ raincatcher you like without worrying about the sheets. Another advantage of double sheeting is that you can preset the leeward sheet before you go about. Hauling in both sets of sheets as you lower the sail keeps it all under control. Can't wait to see LC in the water. Rob 

Please look at a photo of Lexia and her Hydrovane.  Off the self Sunbird 32 with standard Hydrovane on the stern.  I have never had the main sheet interfere with the vane in some thousands of miles.  jds

Postscript. 

Whilst walking the dogs round the hill through the snow in the gloaming, always good for gathering one's thoughts, I remembered the following.  When I bought the boat it had a quite tall structure across the stern which had been used for aerials etc.  When I added the Hydrovane I found that the vane hit the top aft rail of that structure.  I therefore cut down the structure to somewhat above the height of the swivel of the vane and cut out the resultant top aft rail.  I then had two holes in the tops of the remaining forward uprights.  I had a length of cheap flexible plastic water pipe which I cut to length and rammed into the holes to make an arch which leans backwards.  It looks like the sort of arch that people have across the cockpit to keep the sweeping main sheet above the heads of the crew, however this is aft on the stern.  The tip of the moving vane just clears t his arch.  The arch is aft of the main sheet.  It may be that somewhat by accident I have arrived at an arrangement which minimises the interference.  (Sorry, but the photo on the left was taken before this arch was added!  But I hope that you can get the general idea.  And I think that you may be able to see it in photos from the last Plymouth rally.)