Raising a Valk gaff mainsail

For those not familiar with gaff-rigged boats please read the following (to avoid making a gaffe):

The mainsail has 2 or 3 halyards:

- A  is shakled to a wire running along the top of the gaff
- B  is shakled to the top of the gaff near the mast
- C (if present) is shakled to the end of the boom (note that the boom is the shorter spar - avoid attaching it to the end of the gaff )

to raise the sail:

- pull on A so that the gaff is sloping upwards away from the mast

- pull on A and B together so that as the sail rises the gaff remains sloping upwards

- tighten and cleat B while holding A

- tighten and cleat A

- C adjust C (if present) so that there is some slack.  This rope is simply to hold the boom above the deck when the sail is lowered.  (It is not essential since there is also a cradle to hold the rear of the boom).

The important thing is to keep the gaff sloping upwards away from the mast, otherwise the mast end can rise and the far end come down onto someone's head.  Of course don't let go of A either!

Personally I find it easiest to run A and B under their respective cleats and hold both together with one hand.   The other  hand is used to pull on the required halyard above the cleat (like a bow).  This provides a lot of leverage and after each pull the slack is taken up with the first hand.