Crew Information

Schock Therapy - Crew Information

This is an evolving area, I will be continuingly authoring, "borrowing", whatever techniques, ideas, lessons, etc. which might help my crew, and anyone else interested, to enhance their experience with the fine sport of sailboat racing.

More trim and crew information (paraphrased from "Staying Fast", Sailing World Jul/Aug 98)

1. crew should be able to feel heel of boat and react accordingly. e.g. in a puff, crew should move to the rail and hike as necessary, in a lull, crew should move closer to centerline and maybe even to leeward. Waiting on commands from the helm hurts speed.

2. boat should be balanced, e.g. helm s/b kept at about 5 degrees to weather any more, or turned to leeward, boat is out of balance. correct with crew ballast, pinch/feather, sail trim.

3. sail trim for balancing: light wind: backstay, cunningham, outhaul s/b loose, trim main so top batten is parallel to boom. #1 Genoa, w/ halyard set fairly loose, jib leads set forward. building wind (do in order as wind builds): tension outhaul, drop main traveler, tension backstay to add twist to main and tension cunningham (want draft at 50% from luff), tension headstay halyard (want draft in jib at 33% from luff), move jib leads aft, drop main traveler further as necessary. As later resort, tension vang to keep boom down (keeping shape) and ease the main sheet. The Genoa sheet can be eased some too to depower. Lastly swap down on the headsail, and reef the main.

Spinnaker Notes JD Stuart, 4/15/98

1. At Dock

a. Run sheets outside everything, from blocks aft, connect at bow pulpit

b. Run twings on sheets, thru blocks on rail (mid boat)

c. Run foreguy pair from blocks aside fwd hatch to cam cleats

d. Setup spinnaker pole on loop (mast) fwd thru bow pulpit on stbd

2. Bearaway Set - approaching mark on stbd tack close hauled, mark is rounded on port, sails are eased but not jibed.

Prior to mark rounding (start after last tack, on fetch of mark)

Foredeck

a. Connect pole topping lift (lazy Genoa sheet must be over/in front)

b. Hank on chute to bow pulpit on leeward side of boat

c. Connect sheets and halyard all outside of Genoa

Sewer on topping lift, Mastman (or Foredeck) on mast pole end

d. Raise pole to windward, mid mast track at 1 boat length from mark

At mark rounding Sewer on spinnaker halyard (Mastman "jumping" halyard)

e. spinnaker is hoisted quickly (making sure chute raises cleanly)

Foredeck

f. foredeck guides chute clean

g. mastman raises mast end of pole

Mainsheet Trimmer as chute is reaching masthead

h. ease main to proper set, then release Genoa halyard

Sheet/Guy Trimmers after chute reaches masthead

i. Guy Trimmer trims guy so pole is about 45 degrees off centerline

j. Sheet Trimmer trims sheet until chute fills (but not too tight), then ease until windward luff begins to curl

Fordeck and Mastman

k. Gather Genoa, stow where won't get overboard

After chute is set and flying Sheet/Guy Trimmers

l. Guy is trimmed so pole is 45 degrees off centerline for run and at headstay (not on) for beam reach

m. Sheet is eased until luff of chute just starts to curl

3. Jibe Set - approaching mark on stbd tack close hauled, mark is rounded on port, sails are eased then jibed.

Same as above except:

a. Pole is setup on port side

b. Chute is hanked onto and setup on windward side (will be leeward)

c. Pole is raised AFTER mark rounding, AND Genoa jibed over

d. Chute is hoisted after Genoa jibes

e. Main is jibed and eased to new leeward

4. Jibe

a. helm slowly moves boat thru below wind (150 to 150)

b. trimmers free foreguys (BOTH)

c. main trimmer (or helm) assists main over on jibe

d. mastman pops pole from mast and hands to foredeck on new windward side

e. mastman frees former guy

f. foredeck clips in new guy and moves to assist mastman

g. mastman clips in pole at mast (raise to proper height if nec.)

h. trimmers adjust sheet/guy for set i. windward trimmer tightens foreguy

5. Takedown (all prior to mark rounding)

a. foredeck and mastman prepare for gather fwd of shrouds

b. windward trimmer lets guy forward as taken in gather

c. leeward trimmer releases halyard as taken in gather

d. once mostly down, foredeck set Genoa for hoist, mastman finishes gather

e. leeward trimmer starts hoisting Genoa

f. windward trimmer moves to prepare for Genoa trim

g. foredeck and mastman move spinnaker off deck

h. round mark

i. sewer repacks chute

Please note, the author makes no warranty as to the accuracy of the content herein, however every effort has been and continues to be made to keep the content up to date and valid. Please accept our apology for any error or omission which might occur. Comments/suggestions may be forwarded to the author at jeff.stuart@schock34.net All rights reserved, Copyright Jeff Stuart 1998-2003