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(d) at the gybe mark
the approach:
as helm begins to bear away for gybe, crew yanks pole well aft to bring (most of) spi to
starboard side while releasing leeward spi sheet, cleats in port BH, and uncleats jib - helm waits
til crew is done before completing the gybe.
the gybe:
1 both helm and crew concentrate all energies on the gybe - the spi, with both BHs cleated
in should present no problem unless the gybe is badly mishandled!
2 in windy weather, the crew helps the boom over by grabbing the vang. Crew exerts some
pull on vang without actually trying to force the boom over until it indicates it wants to
go when the pressure on the sail decreases significantly.
If a capsize is feared, the helm must do an S-gybe (i.e. pull the tiller briefly to port as the boom
goes over) and the crew should help by trying to stop the boom from crashing over by resisting
its momentum (i.e. fighting boom’s momentum by pulling on the vang once it has crossed the
centre line). This cushions the gybe and makes the boat easier to steer out of the gybe.
after the gybe:
1 helm & crew balance the boat and steer as tactics dictate (e.g. go high to defend wind)
while trimming main and jib to best effect;
2 at word from helm, crew completes pole transfer while helm drives and balances the
boat;
3 crew uncleats leeward BH and sheets in
(e) end of second reach
approaching the leeward mark:
1 helm and crew set sail controls and board for upcoming beat;
2 at word from helm, crew stands in front of windward jib sheet and stows the pole. Helm
may adjust uphaul for storage parallel to boom, or do it later, as the situation dictates;
3 helm stands (briefly, if necessary!) to uncleat spi halyard and holds it in a light grip over
his head to anticipate (and prevent) tangles. In a blow, the halyard can be thrown
overboard to achieve the same effect;
4 crew quickly pulls spi down while helm exerts enough halyard pressure to prevent the sail
from coming down faster than the crew can handle. If this is done quickly enough, there
should be no risk of the leeward spi sheet going under the boat (which is slow!).
(To further help us to keep from sailing over the sheet, we also have a little 10 cm (4”) stainless
steel wire loop sticking out from the bow at deck level.). Crew pulls all slack from spi halyard and
stows it around the storage hook near the shrouds before cleating halyard in small black clam
cleat near mast. If time permits, crew stuffs spi into bag.at the mark:
Having the board full down, playing the jib and keeping the boat flat as we round onto the beat
are the priorities - something which has to be stressed with crews who have a fetish for
neatness. Cleaning up can be done later, when you’re settled away on a tack that you expect to
hold for a while.
(f) end of second beat and start of run:
1 since the next leg will be a run, both BHs may want to be cleated in, but the windward
one for sure!
2 here the procedure differs in that helm and crew can both work on the spi at the same
time: helm hoists and then takes both sheets to fly the spi while the crew adds the pole
to the mix. If you have remained on starboard tack, this will be difficult because the
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