Spinnaker Gybes

[Chris_Stannard]

I watched a race today, from the Club RIB laying the marks. I wno't say which class because I do not wish to embarrass anyone. As requested there was a dead downwind leg and watching moost of the boats getting their spinnakers in a twist made me wonder; "What is the ppoint of going racing if you have not worked out the most efficient way of doing something?"

I was taught, and always found, that the most efficient way to gybe the kite was
1. Helmsman sterrs dead down wind.
2. At the same time the main is bolted into the centre of the boat.
3. One trimmer preferably, unless it is a very big kite, takes both sheets and stands just in front of the helm.
4. When the pole end is let go the trimmer flies the spinnaker. It is important at this stage the helmssman keeps the boat dead down wind.
5. The pole can now be moved across with ease and there is no danger of getting the kite all round the forestay.

I used this method for years and never had a problem.

Has anyone else got a foolproof way of gybing.

Chris Stannard

 

[Twister_Ken]

Your method is only suitable for smaller boats in not too much wind. One trimmer won't have the muscle to control two sheets.

Aboard a bigger boat (and ignoring the helm and the mainsail trimmer) we have.

Foredeck man - takes bight of lazy guy up to pointy end. Also takes pole downhaul in hand to swing pole through foretriangle. As the pole comes through, clips new guy into pole end (and makes sure genoa sheet goes over the top of the pole), then gets the hell out Dodge unless a reaching strut is required on new gybe when he postions it as power comes on new guy.

Mast man - trips pole end to release old guy, and moves pole heel up mast (to a pre-marked posn) to allow nose of pole to swing through behind forestay.

Pit man - drops pole foreguy to allow nose of pole to drop to just above pushpit level - and takes care not to brain foredeck man while doing this.

Trimmer one - (on old guy) shoots about three feet of old guy forward as pole end is tripped, then become new sheet trimmer and trims to keep kite flying through the gybe.

Trimmer two - (on old sheet) keeps kite flying on old sheet once old guy is released until new guy is in, then trims pole back to new posn as mast man and pit man lower heel, raise nose.

Any spare bodies can help grind the guy back.

 

[janie]

We do it similar to this - pole too long to dip gybe, so have to end for end. However, both guys need to be let off for the operation, so spinnaker is definitely flown on the two sheets for a while, before the new guy can be taken up. Also, this all happens behind the helm (tiller), but it probably does on your Twister as well!

 

[brian_neale]

Makes me glad that I sail something simple like a gaff cutter - just the mainsheet to haul in, two foresail sheets to cast off, new running backstay to make up, old runner to release, two foresail sheets to pull in, and a mainsheet to release. Still, given that it takes minutes to gybe, you can do it all single handed without spilling the tea - even if you need to have a stroll up to the foredeck halfway through because the staysail sheet has caught on a halyard belaying pin (again)!

 

[Guest]

On small racing keel boat the KEY is the helm... We are meant to race 1 helm, 2 crew, which puts one on foredeck, and one trimming, BUT two up we gybe better than fully crewed:

Crew pulls tweaker down and lets off about 6 inches on sheet, cleats off spinnaker guy & sheet (yes this REALLY does work), lets off runner, dashes onto foredeck, unclips pole from mast and clips onto sheet. At this point (and not before if unless you want an almighty mess!), helm can then gybe main, whilst crew unclips pole from what is now sheet, and attaches back onto mast. Then dashes back to cockpit, pulls runner on, lets tweaker off and gets back to flying kite. Of course, should you have more people on board, same principle works, just make sure they don't play with anything after it is set up!

dragon lady