by GreenLake » Wed Sep 26, 2018 10:40 pm
The basic setup for any type of DaySailer isn't very complicated - however, there are many slight variations on how individual boats are set up.
The mainsail usually has more variability and you may need to give us a bit more of a description of how your boat is equipped or post some photos here (see the "How to use the forum..." section for instructions on posting images).
Let me give you a generic description, suitable for jibs that are not roller furled, but hanked on. As you write that you are new to sailing, I'll try to explain (gloss) any nautical terms as we go along.
For the jib, you normally have three lines: the halyard, that raises the sail and the two sheets that are used to trim the sail.
After the sail is hanked to the forestay (the wire from mast to front of boat) and the tack (bottom front corner of sail) secured to the stemhead fitting at the bow (same the forestay attaches to), the halyard is clipped or tied to the head of the sail. It runs upward, parallel to the forestay to a block (pulley) that sits on the mast right below the forestay. From there it runs down along the mast to a cleat. (Some boats have a block at the bottom of the mast and a cleat on deck).
When setting up, the halyard needs to be run through the block first, as you won't be able to reach it with the mast up. (And most people don't take it off the mast for the season).
After you've attached the halyard you can raise the sail and should give it good tension, so the luff (front edge of the sail) does not sag when the wind fills the sail.
To control the sail, you have two sheets; they are attached to the clew, or rear corner of the sail, and lead each to their respective side of the boat - inside the shrouds (side stays, or wires to the side of the mast). There's usually some kind of fairlead on each side deck (a block on a bit of track) and there should be some cleat. Cleats can be either also on the track, or in the middle of the boat on top of the centerboard.
As you sail, you use the leeward sheet (the one opposite the side the wind comes from) to control the angle of the jib, while leaving the windward one slack. If you tack through the wind, you let go of one sheet and pull tight the other. Usually, you would have some kind of stopper knot (google "figure eight knot" for tying instructions) to prevent the slack sheet from being completely pulled out.
Let me know if this level of description is helpful, or too basic?
For the main, I am confused that you mention that the cleat is on the "side" of the centerboard. Usually, I would have expected to hear that there is a combination block and cleat at the rear corner of the CB trunk. Can you confirm the location and configuration of the cleat for the mainsheet? Also, the mainsheet configuration depends on what kind of blocks you have attacked to the boom and where (middle, or middle and end) and whether you have a traveler (usually in form of a rope bridle across the back of the boat).
You may also want to browse the gallery on this forum (small link near the top right of the page). You may find pictures of many different types of setup, but one may remind you of what you have on your boat. (Don't worry that yours is a DS3, the sail plan is the same across all types of DS, and some boat out there will be rigged like yours).
All boats should have at least two other lines rigged for the main: the main halyard and the outhaul. The latter is the line that runs along the boom to the clew of the mainsail and is used to stretch the foot of the sail (the bottom edge that runs from tack to clew of a sail). You want to have good tension on that one to keep the sail flat (except in pretty light winds, when a fuller sail will deliver a bit more power). The outhaul runs from the clew, through the fitting on the end of the boom forward to a cleat that usually sits on the side of the boom).
The boom itself my have a line near the front to pull it down against a stop at the mast. Pulling this tight after raising the sail, tightens the luff of the sail. Some sails may be equipped for other lines, like a Cunningham or a reef line; let us know whether your sail just has the standard three grommets in tack, head and clew, or additional ones.
~ green ~ lake ~ ~