2 questions about the rig

First, what are the advantages of the aussie system compared to the standard system for the jib halyard? Is it just that the aussie settup helps tighten the rig? Reduces battan "tie up". I just don't completely understand having never used, or seen, the aussie setup.

Secondly, when you guys raise your sails, which goes first: main or jib? Does one have any advantages over the other as far as setting up the boat? I don't know if I've read anything about this in the past, or if I just overlooked it. I usually raise the main first and then raise the jib. But, I've seen it done both ways. What do ya'll think.

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909

From a previous inquiry



Raise the jib first and set halyard tension snug, then hoist the main. If for no other reason, hoisting the jib first takes a bit of slop out of the rig and limits mast movement.

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Sheet In...Max Out
www.fleet297.org
sailflatlands at gmail dot com

Seems to be a lot of contradictory info on this? If you raise the main first and sheet the main until the blocks are stacked to get the proper rake, then you can raise jib and use the halyard to set the mast for this amount of rake. The shrouds should not be really sloppy, but there will always be some slop- the leeward shroud on most boats is almost always slack.

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Alan
'86 H16, Sail #89057

John's got it right - it's just easier to set your mast rake first with the jib up, then raise the main. You're not lifting the main+mast. There's no way you can set your 3:1 jib halyard against a 6:1 mainsheet, either.

The key is know where to set your jib halyard. On the 16, I always tack my jib in the same place and have my shrouds in the same hole on the adjuster (for everything but the most radical winds). The jib halyard has a mark on it that I compare to the black band on the mast so that I can set the boat up consistently.

Otherwise, you're just guessing.

The advantage of the Aussie Jib Halyard is that you are taking a great deal of load off of the mast which may give you a more consistant bend port tack and starboard. The load is reduced to 1/3 of what you have in the traditional halyard as the block is at the top of the sail rather than on the lowest portion of the mast. The downside is you have a very long, some times bulky halyard to bag.

Traditionally, boats rig the main sail first because they are frequently rigged at a dock and most boats sail better with only the main as opposed to only the jib. Either way is fine. I always rig the main first so I don't have to explain to my monohull counterparts why it is easier to tighten the rig on a Hobie 16 without the weight of the main sail, but either way will work.

I actually sail a 20 now, and like the 18, and Tiger, the main sheet is used to tighten the rig once the sail is up. Even here, either sail up first will work, but I have seen jib tacks pulled out as someone uses the mainsheet/sail to tighten the rig. Pulling the tack out is not easy to explain to the monohull guys, or the other cat sailors watching the ex-monohull sailor who knows it all rigging his new cat for the first time. It was hard not to laugh. I had to walk away.

Thanks guys. That makes a lot of sense about the aussie setup. I may have to do that upgrade here soon.

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909