Answer: To avoid an "override" on a winch, the incoming sheet needs to arrive at the winch drum at an angle several degrees below what would be parallel to the base of the winch. In other words, the sheet needs to approach the winch from below a line parallel with the base of the winch. Not parallel....and never from even slightly above. It doesn't matter how high the winch is, relative to where the sheet is coming from, as long as the winch is properly "tilted" so as to ensure that necessary "approach from below" angle. This angle can be achieved either through tilting the winch, or by the correct placement of a foot block.

Even with the correct angle, overrides are frequent if the initial slack on the sheet is being taken with too many wraps on the winch. This is often because the excessive (loose) wraps fall down on top of each other. The best method is to pull in the initial (easy) slack using only one or possibly two wraps. Then add more extra wraps on the winch as needed, as the tension increases.