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How To Coil a Halyard

No Foil to This Coil: Having trouble with coiled halyards or lines that keep coming undone? Let's solve the problem once and for all.

So here’s my secret: When it comes to knots and rope work, I suffer from a mild form of, well, marlinespike dyslexia. When I get a knot, or splice, I’ve got it. But sometimes it takes me more than a few practice repetitions for the light bulb to click on. Even so, over the years I tried about a thousand different ways to coil halyards on mast-mounted winches. And I’d still never been able to come up with the perfect method. Until now.

I have sailmaker Carol Hasse of Port Townsend Sails to thank. In Maine last fall, in preparation for a transatlantic sail later this summer, crewmate Hasse took pity on me as I was fumbling around when we were cleaning things up after reefing the mainsail on Eleanor of Hewes Point, a Valiant 42. In seconds flat, she showed me how she does it. Voilà. It was so simple and sensible even I learned it straight away.

If you’re also afflicted by, well, Bitter End Syndrome, give this a try. You won’t be disappointed.

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This article first appeared in the May 2015 issue of Cruising World. Herb McCormick is CW‘s executive editor. Click here for more seamanship tips.

How to coild a halyard step 1
Once the sail is set or reefed with proper halyard tension, begin by coiling the line clockwise as you normally would, about a foot and a half from the mast. Herb McCormick
How to coild a halyard step 2
After you’ve coiled the line neatly, reach through it with your free hand and grab the bight (or middle) of the remaining uncoiled line. Herb McCormick
How to coil a halyard step 3
Pull the bight through the center of the coil, forming a loop directly beneath where your other hand is grasping it. Herb McCormick
How to coil a halyard step 4
Take the loop and pass it directly over the top of the coil. Then with the remaining bight of the line, repeat the procedure, making a second loop. Herb McCormick
How to coil a halyard step 5
The second loop that you created will be used to secure the coil to the mast-mounted winch. The loop should be just large enough to fit tightly. Herb McCormick
How to coil a halyard step 6
And there you have it: A coil that’s tight and secure, and won’t fly away or come undone while you’re underway, even on a steep heel. Herb McCormick
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