File - Canadian Wayfarer Association

Oversheeting is in fact a major problem when flying a spinnaker. Fearful of wrathful comments
from their helmsman, many crews will oversheet the spi, simply to stop it from collapsing. What
they should be doing in fact, is just keeping the leading edge from collapsing, just so that it is on
the verge of curling back at approximately half height. In other words, the object is not to pull
the sheets, but rather the reverse, to keep easing and easing. The crew should be trying to get
the clews as far away from the boat as possible. Don’t worry about getting the two clews at the
same height, except perhaps on a run (when it comes almost automatically). So, if the spinnaker
doesn’t collapse on a reach at least once, then it has been oversheeted and is being kept too
close to the other sails. Since the helmsman is constantly altering course to make the most of
wind and waves, the crew will have to play the spinnaker all the time. The helm may be able to
help with an occasional pull on the windward side.
2.8.2 Spinnaker handling
1. hoisting to leeward
Always plan to hoist to leeward. It is safer and simpler. Before a race check the course and rig
the spinnaker so that it will be to leeward for the first reach:
• Free the halyard and the sheets;
• Cleat the uphaul for the approximate pole height desired as per threads in control line;
• Pre-cleat the guy in the approx. position per coloured threads in the sheet and guy
• Adjust the main, jib and centerboard for the new course to keep up boat speed before
hoisting;
Helm hoists the spinnaker. (If it is heavy air ease the main and raise the CB most of the way
before hoisting so as to keep the boat under control until helm and crew can hike). Crew fits the
guy to the pole, fixes the uphaul/downhaul to the middle of the pole, and then hooks the pole to
the mast. While the crew is doing this, the helm hikes the boat flat. Keep the pole end hooks
pointing up to help prevent the guy from falling out. Crew then takes control of the sheet and
guy. and hikes to keep the boat flat. It is critical to keep the boat flat on spinnaker reaches &
runs. The boat will quickly broach and capsize once it starts to lean in strong winds. If
necessary, release the sheet to get the boat flat. If the helm can not bear off quickly enough in
the gust, it often pays to heel slightly to windward until the rudder is perfectly balanced.
It is exciting to plane with the spinnaker flying in strong winds. The secret to survival is to keep
the boat flat:
• raise the CB to be only about 1/3 down;
• both helm and crew hike well out;
• do not overtrim the sails; partly luff the main if needed;
• bear off quickly in gusts, head up in lulls;
• if starting to lean in a gust, release the spin sheet momentarily until the boat recovers;
• on runs, avoid "death-rolls" by putting the CB most of the way down, and slightly;
• oversheeting the main and spinnaker.
2 hoisting to windward
• Bear away to a broad reach then set main, jib and CB;
• Cleat the guy to the "preset" mark;
• Crew frees the halyard and sheet, takes the sheet in one hand then gathers the sail up in a
ball and throws it to windward of the forestay as the helm quickly hoists;
• Immediately after throwing out the sail, the crew quickly trims the sheet so as to pull the
sail around behind the jib. (If the spinnaker blows between the jib and the mast, it will be
big trouble!);
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