[quote=erice]you cleat the mainsheet when you think it is safe to do so, or convenient to do so, like when you want to adjust the jib
think of it a bit like cruise control on your car, it's there to help you when you want it to
having said that, i usually cleat going upwind or down wind when i can safely depower the rig in a sudden gust by just steering the boat
sailing across the wind you can't depower by steering alone so most cat sailors avoid cleating the mainsheet then
as to the cleating angle, pull up, down release etc. most mainsheet blocks are adjustable in angle and often the cleat arms can be taken off and reversed so the cleat releases in the opposite direction. i don't know about the getaway but have a look and see
the key to cleating is you have to be confidently in control of the boat. it sounds as if having the wife and a non-swimming child on board was increasing your stress levels, it certainly does mine, perhaps you should spend some more time sailing solo in light winds and getting used to the boat. how to stop it etc in case someone falls off
once you are confident by yourself seems to be a good time to invite others to come along
i'm pretty confident on my cat now and invited a friend along last week, but man, he wouldn't shut up and it was a struggle for me to concentrate on clean tacks etc with him rabbiting on and getting tangled in the jib blocks etc:o)
people don't realize how busy you can be silently watching the telltales, wind, waves etc. and making minute adjustments to the sails, steering etc
<!-- editby --><em>edited by: erice, Aug 28, 2010 - 01:07 PM</em><!-- end editby --> [/quote]
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