Raising the mast on a 25

Ian Clapperton.
Crème Caramel

The mast support shown is left in place when on the trailer and extends to approx double the height. As it is mounted on the traveller, (as opposed to the transom), the mast is raised to a much higher angle.

I untie all the tie-downs, walk the mast towards the rear and attach to mast step. Then raise the mast up as high as possible by lifting with one hand and pulling on the tackle line with its cleat with the other. I then use the spinnaker halyard, (attached to the mooring cleat and still passing through its jammer), by taking two turns around the winch and laying the unattached end on the cabin top within reach of the mast step.

Now, standing on the cabin roof near the mast step, I lift the mast up to the vertical. I can just manage this with one hand, holding the spinnaker halyard in the other, but two hands can be easier. Either way, I take up the slack on the halyard, pulling it through the jammer either as the mast comes up or immediately after. Since the jammer holds the halyard securely, I can then let go of the mast.

To make it easier to attach the forestay, I then winch the spinnaker halyard very tight.

If an assistant was available, the assistant could pull the halyard through its jammer, leaving both hands for raising the mast to the vertical.
It is best to position the boat stern to the wind so the wind tends to assist with the lifting and lowering. With cross winds or on water, there are ways of preventing the mast from falling too far to the side. If you use a furler, there are different systems that can be used.