TOMMYVAL@aol.com wrote:

Is anyone familiar with any technique that makes changing the headsail easier or do I just have to go forward pull her down and put up the smaller one? Trying to make it easier on the back. Not really interested in getting roller furling just thought I would query the group and see if anyone had a better way.

You can rig a downhaul, a light line that you can pull from the cockpit, goes forward to the bottom of the forestay, and then up to the top of the jib. That allows you to douse the jib quickly, but you still have to go forward to hank on a new sail. As for how to heave to without a jib, I was just watching some sailing DVD's recently, and they mentioned a method that I haven't tried yet. Sheet the main boom all the way out to the shrouds, I think on the windward side, and the main will alternately fill on one side or the other, but not go anywhere. I think you need an accidental jibe preventer for this one. Also, in the M-Boat archives, if you search there, someone once mentioned that if you bring the main boom amidships, and go forward, the addl' weight up at the bow will heave to the ship. I have not tried either of these. I think they would be problematic in rough water and high winds, because of the broach potential. John Fleming M-17 #357: Star Cross'd