Because the whole thing is to be considered as a closed static system, it is theoretically not interesting where the x-axle is. In other words it makes no difference that the mast is beyond his perpendicular point.

But, but..... Ofcourse there is the matter of water in the mainsail. That's a breaking force ofcourse, so maybe you have to get rid of that water first (swimming to the top).
After that it should even be easier because the leaning from the masttop on the water will take some weight away.

You can easily demonstrate this to yourself the next time you'r fully rigged on the beach: attach a rope to a trapezewire and pull the cat over on its side.
Now it's lying with the rig down on the ground supporting on the masttop. Start hanging on your uphaulline and in case your weight is critical you will see that with the initial pull you lift the whole thing easy one or two feet from the ground. Then it will stop and you can pull what you want, but it won't go further then that.

(At the same time the non-believers of the static system can easily check their own theory of the lower attachment of the uphaulline.)

However the experience on the water which Jay describes differs a bit from the above described, but first let me say that he is right; his description is also mine and I think it is the common experience.

This phenomenon has to be explained by the force in the mainsail which is starting to catch wind. By the way if you haven't unsheeted the jib, it will definitly catch even earlier. (But this will lead also to headway after the righting of the cat.)

ronald


ronald
RAIDER-15 (homebuilt)

hey boy, what did you do over there, alone far out at sea?..
"huh....., that's the only place where I'm happy, sir.