Ok, Kent. I see where you are coming from. My understanding was that the lines are detached from the sail by the sewer crew and passed back up to be re-rigged by the foredeck crew right after takedown. Just like a companionway douse only in a different place. The sail is then flaked and bagged as usual.
We takedown through the companionway so I may have misconceived how its done. I sailed on a J41 where we doused down the hatch but I wasn't part of the pointy end crew. My recollection is that the lines were disconnected and passed up. But I was busy with mainsail trim so I wasn't watching.
Those of you that douse down the forward hatch, please chime in and tell us how its really done.
