Foredeck work

Quote: Originally posted by John Davis on 28 July 2003

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On our jibes foredeck releases the pole and tries to new guy before relasing old guy.  Every time he does this the boat rounds up and gets out of control.

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Either your foredeck wants to commit suicide, or somebody is contemplating homicide .

By using the technique you outlined above, you close up the clews and make the chute very deep, it's akin to having an out of control balloon attached to your mast. Given enough wind, you're almost guaranteed to wipe out. Try this instead;

• Square the spinaker pole.
• Ease the topping lift to allow sufficient travel in the pole bridle. ( Do not release the downhaul under any circumstances).
• Set the leeward twinger to the height of the top life line.
• Release the pole from the mast and square the sheet more to compensate and also trim the sheet a bit harder. (The idea here is the sheet both the tack and the clew tight in order to spread the foot and reduce the depth of the chute. The flatter the chute is the easier it will be to gybe.)
• Release the pole from the mast.
• Adjust former guy twinger to height of the top life line.
• Both twingers should be at the top life line, both clews sheeted fairly tight, the pole completely removed - you're now ready to gybe.
• Gybe the boat using an 'S' technique, throw the mainsail over as you cross the wind.
• Attach pole to new guy.
• Begin easing the guy to allow some "slack' to attach the pole to the mast. You may (should) have to ease the sheet a bit at the same time.
• Release leeward twinger, or perhaps maintain slight tension if sailing in wavy conditions.
• Tension twinger on the guy all the way and re-adjust the pole for squareness.

This is essentially the technique we use on Convictus without worry up until about 25 to 30 knots. The trick is to completely remove the pole and flatten out the bottom of the chute in order to keep it under control.

Hope this helps...happy sailing!!