This
can either be done by letting windward sheets and guys fly - or
by spiking the tack. First check the spi halyard is expertly flaked
, then the genoa is pulled up to the appropriate mark under direction
of the Pianist.
Before
the drop the lazy guy is led between shroud and runner and through
gap between foot of mainsail and boom. Mast takes hold of this but
stays to windward . At the last minute Spi Trimmer hands the spi
sheet to Sweeper or Genoa Trimmer and joins Mast in preparing to
retrieve the kite. Bow stands forward holding the forestay with
one hand and reaching up with the spike with the other.
Do
not stand aft of the pole as it will spring back and bite you!
Trimmers
mate eases pole forward , the Pianist slowly lowers the uphaul and
Sweeper pulls downhaul down . This should result in a controlled
descent of the pole to be within reach of Bow. If either lets off
too much ( or heaven forbid releases it altogether !) it slams against
the forestay, becomes impossible to spike and we roll into a drop
by letting windward sheets run.
Assuming
we have managed to place the pole end within reach , Helm calls
"Spike", Bow spikes the Sheet, Mast and Spi Trimmer haul on the
lazy guy and haul the spi under the mainsail to Sweeper who bundles
it below. Bow stows the pole and clips back the uphaul so we can
tack and skirts the genoa.
Having
done so shouts "Clear to tack" (NOTE - genny sheet can easily slip
over the end of the pole . and when you try to tack you cant- so
before clipping back Bow AND Mast must check genny sheet is entirely
ABOVE pole in all manoevres - this will save a lot of embarrassment)
Genoa
trimmer concentrates on sheeting the genoa to the exclusion of all
else. The temptation is to sheet it early (before we have headed
up onto closehauled )- but this is slow. So is rounding the mark
with the genoa flogging - so aim for perfect trimming throughout
the turn. Everyone else hikes hard. Spi trimmer looks at course
made good out of the mark on the GPS and makes a very early call
as to wether we are lifted or knocked compared with earlier readings
- or if appropriate wether we can lay the mark in one tack / can
crack off. The various headings should have been discussed long
before the rounding . Once settled sort out the sheets and guys
from the rail , the Pianist will usually have to adjust one sail
or other , and the trimmers start their search for speed.
.
Essentially
the same except that windward sheet and guy are let fly. Both must
have been flaked before the drop (responsibility of Trimmers Mate)
– something that should be done before a spike drop as well just
in case it goes wrong.
This
occurs when you havn’t had time or opportunity to approach on the
correct gybe. It is precisely the same as a spike drop except it
it is important for Bow to clip the uphaul back and check lazy genny sheet is above the pole
ready for the gybe. When this is achieved Bow shouts “Clear to Gybe”
, Trimmers mate releases
the old genoa sheet through the gybe and pulls in the new runner
, Genoa Trimmer gybes the genoa and sheets on. The boom swings over
to the cry of “Heads” , Main works like a dervish to get the sail
in and hopefully the Pianist , Spi Trimmer and Mast hike hard leaving
Bow to skirt and the helm to let out a sigh of relief if it all
works.
Used
in light to moderate airs when you can ( or must) run deep into
the mark and round without gybing. It is most effective if you are
dead downwind or even slightly by the lee.
Genoa
is first hoisted 5 boat lengths out , Spi trimmer hands sheet to
the Pianist and holds out windward guy whilst holding on to shroud.
Meanwhile forehatch has been opened and Sweeper is below holding
on to lazy guy which is led around forestay , over windward bow
and down hatch. Main calls "Trip and Stow" - Mast trips pole end
, Pianist lowers pole and Bow clips uphaul back ensuring genoa sheets
are not tangled. The kite is flown well to windward by Trimmers
mate on guy , Spi trimmer holding guy out to windward and pianist
on sheet. Only as the vessel makes her turn to windward round the
mark does the pianist release the sheet and blow the halyard . Trimmers
mate pulls guy back until the sail collapses. Bow and Mast gather
furiously and Sweeper pulls the sail into the forehatch. If all
goes well the spi is funnelled via the genoa into the hatch as we
turn into the wind. Genoa trimmer , as before, ONLY sheets the genoa,
ignoring everything else. If all goes well Spi trimmer hikes hard
, soon joined by Mast and Trimmers mate and Pianist.
Use
this if you are approaching on the wrong gybe in light to moderate
winds.
It is important to be able to steer deep for the last 5 boatlengths
- otherwise drop early into the cockpit and then gybe ( but do NOT
retrieve between boom and sail!)
As
Helm bears away on the final approach , Sweeper goes below , opens
forehatch and takes the lazy guy UNDER THE GENOA and hangs on. Helm
calls "Pole Back" and Trimmers mate pulls windward sheet back .
Spi trimmer hands sheet to the Pianist and struts the windward sheet.
Helm calls "Trip and Stow" and Mast trips the pole. The pianist
lowers uphaul , Bow stows pole onto foredeck and clips uphaul back
- ensuring genoa sheet (previously over pole in front of uphaul
take-off) is not tangled. Pianist and Trimmers mate fly kite well
to windward using both sheets. As the mark approaches ( runners
must be tied forward for this manoeuvre) Helm calls out "Gybe" and
starts the turn , boom comes over to the cry of "Heads" , the Pianist
and Trimmers mate steer the kite to the new windward side watching
the sail all the time ( Pianist trims on , T-M eases). Genoa trimmer
gybes the genoa leaving it overtrimmed on the new gybe .As the wind
comes on the quarter , Helm cries "Drop" , the Pianist blows the
spi halyard ,Sweeper pulls like hell on guy and the sail is pulled
into the forehatch aided by Mast and Bow.
It
is important that before the drop the Pianist has managed to get
most of the sail round to the new windward side so it is fed into
the forehatch by the genoa. If the Spi trimmer can get across during
the gybe to strut the new windward sheet prior to the drop , so
much the better. As the sail is taken in , the boat is hardening
up , the main and genny come on and Spi Trimmer , Trimmers mate
Mast and the Pianist hike , and another perfect drop and rounding
has been achieved.
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