How to Attach the Jib Sail to the Bow in Sailing

Sailing is an invigorating sport, especially for the racing enthusiast. When first learning to sail, two of the most important things to learn are all the terms for the parts of the boat and sails, and the points of sail -- or how a boat moves in the wind. Although there are many different types of sailing vessel, the sloop is quite common for recreational boaters. This is a single-masted boat with a main sail and jib or genoa. The goal of attaching a jib is to secure the three corners of the sail.

Things You'll Need

  • Sailing shoes
  • Jib sail with hanks
  • Jib halyard
  • Jib sheets
  • Proper hardware (shackles, fairleads)
  • Jib sailbag and ties (optional)
  • Sailing gloves (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the jib from its sailbag if it has one. Lay it out on the deck at the base of the headstay or forestay. This is the rigged cable that supports the mast from the bow end. (The one on the back of the boat is the backstay.) Although you can pre-set the jib at the dock, if you are underway, make sure the boat is helmed by someone who can drive it and hold it steady head-to-wind until you are ready to raise the sail. This is important during sail changes to different-sized jibs.

    • 2

      Ease the jib halyard from its holding area on the boat (usually near or on the mast). Attach the jib halyard at the jib head. Keep the halyard somewhat taut so it doesn't fly into your face or pose other problems like tangling in the rigging.

    • 3

      Attach the jib's tack to the deck's tack hook or a shackle for that purpose. This will be very near the bow's front edge and near the base of the headstay.

    • 4

      Hank on the jib from the bottom up. (Some people prefer doing it from the top down, however you can keep the sail neat without having to hoist it by going from the foot of the sail to the head.) Simply hook each hank -- the metal hooks used to secure the sail -- securely around the headstay. Try to keep the sail from unfolding or getting filled with wind until it's fully attached. (Note: If the boat has a foil on the headstay, simply feed the lufftape of the jib into the foil, starting with the head -- there will be no hanks.)

    • 5

      Attach the jib sheets through the clew -- the aft end of the sail. This is usually done with shackles or by tying a bowline knot on each sheet. You can learn how to properly tie these knots, as well as how to properly rig the sails, by attending a basic sailing course in your community, by watching videos, or by trial and error with practice.

    • 6

      Run the jib sheets through their appropriate tackle and gear so the lines are ready to be handled. Wrapping the ends loosely around winches may help, but have people on standby to be ready to trim the sail as soon as it's hoisted.

    • 7

      Hoist the sail by pulling the halyard until the head of the jib is at its maximum height on the headstay. Trim it appropriately as the vessel moves through the points of sail.