To use a sailing winch, first clear the line and pull out slack before it takes load. Wrap the line from the bottom of the drum upward, usually clockwise. Keep tension on the free end, called the tail, while you or another crew member turns the handle. This lets friction on the drum grip the line. When the line is set, secure it as directed before releasing the tail. To ease, remove the handle, keep your fingers outside the wraps, and let the line out slowly under control. The right number of wraps depends on the winch, line, and load, so follow the skipper’s direction and the boat or winch manual.
A winch helps you control a loaded line by creating friction around its drum. The key is to stay in control from the first wrap to the final ease.
In this guide, you will learn how to use a sailing winch step by step. You will prepare the line, wrap it from the bottom of the drum upward, keep tension on the loose end—called the tail—while the handle turns, and secure the line before letting go. You will also learn to ease the line slowly, with your fingers kept away from the wraps.
The right number of wraps depends on the winch, line, and load. Do not guess. Follow the skipper’s direction and check the boat or winch manual. If you have not used that winch before, say so and ask for a demonstration.
Prepare the line before it takes load
Before you use a sailing winch, prepare the whole station. A tidy setup helps the line run as intended and reduces the chance of a jam.
- Tell the skipper if you have not used a winch before. Ask how many wraps to put on the drum. The right number depends on the line, winch, and load, so follow the skipper’s direction and the boat or winch manual.
- Tie back long hair. Secure loose clothing so it cannot catch in the winch.
- Keep bystanders away from the winch, line, and fittings that will carry the load.
- Check the line’s lead—the route it follows into the winch. A line entering too high or too low can slip or pile over itself. Ask the skipper to show you the correct lead on this boat.
- Arrange the loose tail so it leads clear and falls into its proper stowage area.
- Pull out the slack before the line becomes heavily loaded. Slack can help one wrap ride over another and jam.
SailStarter teaches fundamentals for learning purposes. It is not a substitute for certified training, local regulations, or your own judgment on the water.
Wrap from the bottom of the drum upward
When you learn how to use a sailing winch, start each wrap at the bottom of the drum. Lead the line around the drum in its operating direction—usually clockwise. Lay each new wrap just above the last one. Keep the wraps orderly and do not cross them. A wrap that climbs over and traps the line below is called a riding turn, or override.
If an unfamiliar winch is unloaded, turn the drum gently by hand before adding the line. Wrap the line the same way the drum turned. If you wrap it backward, the winch will not pull the line at all.
Do not guess how many wraps to add. The right number depends on the line, drum, surface, equipment, and load. Too many wraps can also cause an override. Follow the skipper’s direction and the boat or winch manual.
SailStarter teaches fundamentals for learning purposes. It is not a substitute for certified training, local regulations, or your own judgment on the water.
Tail the line as the handle turns on the sailing winch
Grinding means turning the winch handle. Tailing means keeping tension on the free end of the line. The drum’s friction works only while you maintain that tension, so grinding and tailing must happen together.
On a non-self-tailing winch, one person usually grinds while another tails. Before grinding, check that the handle is fully seated and locked. As the grinder turns it, the tailer pulls the line steadily and keeps both hands clear of the wraps.
Tail with your fingers tucked and the back of your hand toward the drum. Your knuckles face the winch, so your fingers point away from the wraps and cannot be pulled between them.
Add extra wraps under load only when the skipper directs you. Pass the line around the drum with one hand. Use your other hand only to feed line to that hand. Never reach across the existing wraps. Follow the skipper’s direction and the boat or winch manual.
SailStarter teaches fundamentals for learning purposes. It is not a substitute for certified training, local regulations, or your own judgment on the water.
Secure the load before releasing the tail
When using a sailing winch safely, keep tension on the tail until the line is secured exactly as the skipper directs.
On some boats, you secure the line on a cleat. One turn around the cleat helps you hold or ease the load under control; then lock the line off as directed. Other boats use a self-tailer, the gripping jaws at the top of the winch. Load it carefully and follow the boat or winch manual. A self-tailer can still develop crossed wraps that jam, and you may not notice until you have wound in a lot of line.
Before letting go, ease the tail very slightly. Confirm that the line does not creep or slip. If it moves, take up the tension again and ask the skipper what to change.
Once the line is holding, remove the winch handle. Stow it in its holder, within reach but where it cannot snag another line or strike someone.
SailStarter teaches fundamentals for learning purposes. It is not a substitute for certified training, local regulations, or your own judgment on the water.
Ease slowly without putting fingers in the wraps
Learning how to use a sailing winch includes knowing how to release its load smoothly. First, confirm the skipper’s command. Remove the winch handle and stow it where it cannot catch a line.
Keep light tension on the tail so the wraps still grip the drum. Your hold should be loose, but never slack. Use the heel or outside of your hand to peel the upper wraps away gradually while the line runs through your other hand. Keep your fingers away from the wraps.
On a self-tailing winch, follow two clear steps: ease the line away from the gripping jaws first, then remove turns from the drum. Follow the skipper’s direction and check the boat or winch manual for the correct method and equipment limits.
Do not let the line surge. Sheet loads on a cruising yacht can be very high, and a sudden release can make the wraps cross and form a jam called a riding turn. If the line crosses, jams, or behaves unexpectedly, stop. Hold the load if you safely can, and call the skipper rather than trying to free a loaded line alone.
SailStarter teaches fundamentals for learning purposes. It is not a substitute for certified training, local regulations, or your own judgment on the water.
Using a sailing winch well starts with preparing the line before it takes load. Wrap from the bottom upward, keep tension on the tail as the handle turns, then secure the line before releasing the tail.
When you ease, keep your hand outside the wraps, with the back of your hand toward the drum. Let the line move slowly and steadily. A fast surge can cause a riding turn, where one wrap crosses another and jams. If the line jams, stop and ask the skipper rather than trying to fix it alone.
Wrap counts and equipment vary. Follow the skipper’s direction and the boat or winch manual.
SailStarter teaches fundamentals for learning purposes. It is not a substitute for certified training, local regulations, or your own judgment on the water.
Try the SailStarter lessons to practise loading, tailing, securing, and easing a winch step by step.