Talk:Sheet (sailing)

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The term “Three sheets to the wind” originated with the windmill and not the sailing world. A windmill typically has four arms or frames in which a sheet of canvas or sail could be attached by the miller to harness the wind. When the wind was light a sheet of canvas was attached to each of the four frames. If the wind was heavy only one canvas was used. If the wind was moderate two opposing sheets of canvas were used to keep the torque in balance. The millers never used just three sheets of canvas. They discovered that using three sheets would cause the building to gyrate uncontrollable and topple over, like a drunken sailor.(This unsigned post was added 14:16, 26 May 2006 192.223.243.6 (Talk) )

Do you have a cite for that? I don't doubt your word, but a link showing this would end the debate before it starts. --Kickstart70-T-C 14:56, 26 May 2006 (UTC)

I'd second that request. This smells very much like a folk etymology to me. PeteVerdon 22:54, 7 August 2006 (UTC)

I'd second the second, but Bartlby's and many other reputable sources disagree, so I'm going to change tack and scuttle this bit. Pjrich 04:22, 25 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Jib sheet tackle

Since when did a yachtsman worry much about "large amounts of line and loose blocks" forward? I think it's more likely the tackle for the jib disappeared from the foredeck because jibs got bigger than the foretriangle. The jib sheets had to be led aft of the mast because the jib clew was aft the mast! Besides the gear didn't disappear, so much as move aft, mutate and double. And one last point. I sail on a ketch with a boom rigged fore stay sail, inside the genoa. It's about even for stubbing my toes on the primary winches in the cockpit and the staysail sheet blocks on the foredeck.--J Clear 01:52, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

I admit I've never sailed on a yacht with purchases in the jib sheets, but if I did I'd think twice before going forward if the jib was flogging in any kind of wind. Just the sheets can give you a painful whack on the head; I really don't fancy the same thing with a heavy wooden block. I'd also wonder about fouling the sheets on the various projections and fittings likely to be found on an older type of vessel - with the sheets slack a four-way purchase would allow for at least four times as much knitting. PeteVerdon 22:53, 7 August 2006 (UTC)

The staysail boom helps slow the flogging of the aluminum block. There are two deck blocks, about 6' apart on the deck for it, with a double V of sheet through the block on the boom, so it sort of slides back and forth on a loose sheet, rather than whip about in a head menacing fashion. One goes forward, grabs the boom, attaches a 4' topping lift (from the main mast) to it, sheets it home, then drops the stay sail. If close hauled, you can usually get the topping lift on it before heading up. Actually you're more likely to get hit in the leg or knee as it's not that high up.--J Clear 00:58, 8 August 2006 (UTC)

That sounds like a pretty sensible arrangement, and presumably makes it self-tacking too. But it's not really what I was talking about. It sounds like you also have a largish genoa - imagine a pair of at least double-fist-sized timber blocks on short lanyards off the clew, and then consider whether you'd like to stow it in any kind of breeze. Plus add two to four times the amount of line being flung around. PeteVerdon 23:58, 18 September 2006 (UTC)