Sail Reefing & Stowing - Hunter MH37 Operator's Manual

H
unter's continuous design goal for the sail and rigging
layouts is maximum performance with safe and unde-
manding management. The conventional or optional
furling rigs, the design of the sails, deck layout/hardware
placement and an organized and clutter free line manage-
ment all work together to provide a fluid and exciting sail-
ing experience. Hunter has and continues to be on the
industry's leading edge of sail and rigging innovation.
If this is your first boat of this type or are changing to a
new and unfamiliar boat, please ensure you obtain han-
dling and operating experience before assuming com-
mand. The information in this chapter is not intended as
a course on boating safety or seamanship. To gain sailing
experience and knowledge, your dealer, national sailing
federation or yacht club will be pleased to advise you of
local sea schools and/or competent instructors.
As always, never underestimate the potentially danger-
ous power of wind, tide and the sea. Ensure there is suf-
ficiently trained and proficient crew on board to handle the
boat and its operating systems even in adverse conditions.
Refer to the Boating Safety, and the Getting Under-
way chapters for safe boat handling information.
The rig of your boat refers to the mast, boom, rigging and
integrated hardware (Fig. 12.14). This chapter will spe-
cifically discuss the following rig and sail categories:
1. Mast
2. Standing Rigging
3. Boom
4. Mainsail
5. Head Sails
6. Running Rigging
7. Rigging the boat
8. Sail Reefing and Stowing
9. Supporting Hardware
12.1 Mast
Your main and most vital rig component is the mast, also
referred to as the main spar. It carries the sails and is
supported by the standing rigging (see section below on
Standing Rigging). Hunter provides a conventional mast
Sails and Rigging
as standard allowing full control of mainsail management
to the sailer. Hunter also offers an optional roller furl-
ing mast providing easier mainsail stowage and deploy-
ment by rolling the mainsail in or out of the mast. (The
choice between conventional or in-mast furling will also
impact the boom, running rigging and the mainsail - all
discussed in subsequent sections.)
The mast also provides the perch for navigational and
deck lighting along with weather instruments.
Attaching the mast is referred to as stepping the mast
and is part of the commissioning process. Your Hunter
is a deck stepped mast. The mast base is positioned
onto a receiver, or mast step (Fig. 12.1 - showing a furl-
ing rig block arrangement (discussed later)), located on
the deck. Mast stability and support is provided by the
standing rigging (strategically placed cables and hard-
ware) and the compression post, which provides deck
support beneath the mast's position. Stepping the mast
will require the assistance of a crane and should only be
done by trained and experienced riggers.
Your Hunter is considered a fractional rig. This refers to
the positioning on the mast of the support cables (stays/
shrouds) below the top of the mast (masthead).
The mast features a double swept-back spreader arrange-
ment. Spreaders are horizontal spars used to spread the
supporting mast shrouds to provide the desired stability
and strength to the mast. The spreaders are angled aft
from the mast to organize the shrouds sufficient to free up
the need for an aft stay (backstay).
12.1
Figure 12.1