On
Festina Lente we have developed a technique that reduces the requirement
for brute strength to a minimum. We use two sheet trimmers ( Sweeper
and G/Trimmer) in the cockpit ,facing forwards ( looking at the
spi) and each with a sheet led around a halyard winch. These two
work together steering the kite round the front of the boat as we
turn. They are aided by the trimmers mate who is in charge of the
guys , the pianist who controls the spi uphaul and vang and the spi trimmer who , having relinquished the
sheet for the gybe , either acts as a tempory spi pole on the new
windward side , holding
out the sheet until the pole is skied or , if it is blowing hard, comes
aft to gybe the runners.
So
as we prepare to gybe the
sheet is handed back into the cockpit , bow gathers up some slack
of the lazy guy and stands in front of the forestay . Mast takes
up position by the mast with the trip line in hand having first
ensured the sheet is over the end of the pole. Main centres the
traveller.
On
the call -“Stand by to gybe” - main starts to pull sheet in hand over hand ( in light airs
this can be omitted – in heavy airs it has to come halfway in) Mast
raises the inner end of the pole.
At
“Guy back” the trimmers mate pulls the guy (and pole) as far aft
as possible and helm starts to bear away. Spi sheet trimmers help
by pulling old windward
sheet on at the same time and easing leeward sheet so the spi traverses to windward.
As
the wind crosses the stern Helm cries “Trip” , Mast pulls hard on
tripping line , Pianist lowers uphaul to pre-set mark, mast guides pole forward to Bow (using genoa sheet looped over spi boom) who rams
new guy into jaws , shouts “Made” and throws spi boom back to new
weather side. Spi trimmers stare at spi and fly it using sheets – usually trimming
it back to new windward side. Main pulls boom over SCREAMING “Heads”
reminding everyone that gybing goes better if we end it with the
same number of heads on shoulders as when we started. In a blow , Spi - trimmer
has been making up the new runner hard against the boom as it comes in , Helm holding the uncleated old runner in their
hand . As soon as the boom starts to travel , the old runner is
cast off and the new runner taken up . The aim is to
have this on hard before
the boom reaches the end of its travel.
In light airs the runners are tied forward and spi trimmer struts the new windward sheet til the guy comes home.
As
soon as the shout “Made” is heard , Mast pulls up the uphaul to
its previous position and the Pianist takes up the slack. This upward
movement of the pole is aided by the Trimmers mate, who pulls on
the new guy until the pressure is taken off the new windward sheet.
Pole position is adjusted with guy ,uphaul and downhaul, sheet is
passed back to the Spi trimmer on the side deck , vang is tightened
if appropriate and we go back into VMG mode.
In
marginal conditions Pianist releases some vang once the boom has been trimmed on ( at the call
of “Pole Aft”)and Spi Trimmer flakes the mainsheet falls so they
dont jam when let back out in a rush– Main does NOT let boom all
the way out on the new gybe until it has been vanged back on. This
is difficult and is worth practising in moderate weather – but if
done properly , takes some power out of the main and allows you
to gybe in strong winds . If the main runs out to the shrouds unvanged after the gybe – it will all end in tears – or more specifically
, a gybe broach! Somehow the sheet must be cleated with boom at
60 degrees from midline , then vanged and let out the last 20 degrees.
Spi- trimmer gets forward and sweats up vang with pianist tailing
, once boom is across and runner secure.
So
what can go wrong?
Well
its important that the Helm steers steadily thro the gybe and doesn’t
hover dead downwind – that pretty much ensures a wrap.
The sheet trimmers can achieve the same – usually by looking
at what someone else is doing . Any trimmer not looking at the kite
– or perhaps up at the masthead fly to keep it pointing at the centre
of the kite – should be shot.
If
the guy isn’t squared enough at the start , the clews stay close
and unsupported , inviting a twist. Pulling it back at the start
of the gybe flattens the spi and makes it easier to control.
Sometimes
Mast ,in their haste , skies the pole after the gybe – its important to look at what effect the rope you are pulling
is having rather than just heaving away blindly.
Bow
may put the new guy in back to front. If they do , don’t worry –
the Sheet trimmers fly the kite on the sheets , Spi trimmer stands
with one hand holding the shroud and the other pushing out the windward
sheet , the helm keeps the true wind 15 degrees from the stern and
the kite should be as steady as a rock whilst the pole is lowered and the rope reversed.
Frequently
, the new guy isn’t pulled on enough, the windward sheet is released
and the spi disappears round the forestay with an almost inevitable
twist. Trimmers mate and Windward sheet trimmer must talk to each
other and look at the kite.
A
reach to reach gybe is just the same , but the 3 trimmers must co-ordinate
more as the boat swings onto the reach . In effect the spi is swung
to leeward as the boat comes up off the run and the windward sheet
is eased to the guy ONLY
once the latter is pulling the pole off the forestay . The down
haul must be pulled on early as soon as the boat comes up to the
reach to prevent the pole skying, and the Helm must keep the boat
downwind long enough for the crew to complete the manoeuvre . Tactically the boat should have been put in a position beforehand where she doesn’t HAVE to make a
tight turn- usually by sailing high enough to sail the last 4 boat
lengths into the mark on a run and gybing before the mark.
In
a big blow we all tighten up – which is counterproductive . Its
important we gybe with boat
and crew fast and loose
– preferably going down
a wave – and swung confidently through the wind. When the helm hesitates
– it invites disaster. Sometimes the boom crashes over – the boat
broaches and without a pole the kite takes control. Releasing the vang before the gybe makes this
less likely to happen . If it DOES , and the situation looks grim
– call for a spi drop. To do this safely the kite must be tethered
by 2 out of 3 corners . SO -
1. Helm calls “Emergency drop”
2. Pianist releases
spi halyard ( I hope it was flaked!)
3. BOTH spi sheets are pulled in AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. Preferably
the leeward sheet is pulled on most, to bring sail round to the
lee side – but once the halyard is blown - don’t delay in getting that foot tight.
4. The spi is stretched tight along its lower edge , the sail
floats gently across the water , peace and harmony return and hopefully
the boat comes upright – especially if someone blows the vang (Pianist – this should be you)
5. Mast ,Spi trimmer and Trimmers mate retrieve the sail.
6. Sheet trimmers do not release until ¾ of sail is safely stowed.
7. Sweeper pulls vang on and mops helms fevered brow, we turn
downwind and rehoist kite or genoa depending on morale.
Failure
to get both sheets on tight ends
in trawling the kite or flying it miles from the masthead. If this
happens get 4 people on the leeward sheet , release the windward
sheet and guy, hang on and hope the photographers are somewhere
else.! If either the windward ropes or the halyard are jammed ( I guess it wasn’t flaked !) spend 30
secs trying to release it – then consider cutting it ( knife attached
to steering pedestal).
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