Lazy Combo - mainsail handling with the greatest of ease

Blackwattle at Christmas Island, showing the sail just dropped before zipping up the Lazy Combo - she comes down so easily... SW

Lazy Cradle on a Moody © SW

Lazy Combo is very inexpensive, and a very easy way to put away your mainsail. UK-Halsey Sailmakers makes a good one of these, called the Lazy Cradle, and it's a combination of a sail cover and lazy jacks. You simply lower the halyard, let the sail settle between the lazy jacks into the cover. Once the sail is completely lowered, zip the cover closed over the top of the sail. The system is perfect for short-handed crews, as we were, and we have dropped the main in big seas, at night, in 40 knots of wind - not to be desired, but the Lazy Combo made it happen fast and tidily.

Since the cover catches the sail as it comes down, the person on the helm can't get blinded by drapes of sailcloth - doubly important while entering a harbour or narrow channel.

Even in good conditions, there's no searching for the sail cover or battling with it in a breeze. Just drop and zip. In moments your mainsail is neatly put away and protected from the sun.

Another Lazy Cradle © SW

The other advantage is that there's no temptation at the end of a daysail, to avoid wrestling with the sail covers, and leave sails exposed to the sun’s harmful UV rays. The lazy cradle is more apt to be used because it is easier to use, and that will make your sail last longer.

The cover holds a nice clean shape and looks as neat as it performs. The full length battens that run parallel to the zipper hold the cover open when lowering the sail and give the cover a smooth shape when zipped closed. Made from Sunbrella, the same material as your existing protective canvas, you can have your lazy Combo match your dodger, bimini and roller furling cover.

On the UK-Halsey version, the Lazy Cradle, when sailing, just roll the cover up; it has built in buckles that holds the rolled up cover next to the boom. For long range cruising, we never bothered to do that, preferring to keep it at the ready - it made little difference to our daily progress.

Click http://www.ukhalsey.com/LazyCradle/lazycradle.asp!here to see a UK-Halsey's short video the Lazy Cradle in action, and www.ukhalsey.com!here to go to their website. If you don't have a UK-Halsey loft anywhere near you, see your local sailmaker and tell them what you want. Particularly when sailing short-handed, you'll never regret having a Lazy Combo.