CHANGING HEADSAILS Changing headsails, especially in high winds, requires planning. Work with other crew members to get the job done. The wind will want to catch a loose sail on the deck, so make sure you have control of the new jib before it’s hoisted and the old jib after it’s lowered.
1 Bring the folded sail to the head stay and attach the tack to the bow fitting. Ten connect the luff to the headstay, starting with the bottom hanks. You may have to remove the first few hanks of the raised jib to do this.
2 Unfold the new sail. Lower the raised jib and secure it with sail ties or remove it from the deck. Connect the sheets to the new jib.
3 Attach the jib halyard to the new jib and make sure it’s clear to hoist.
4 Hoist the new jib completely and then trim the sail.