Tactics & Racing · Downwind & Marks

By Martin ‘Stavros’ Payne · BDA Magazine 2007 Annual, p. 7

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Summary

Step-by-step crew sequences for dropping the spinnaker at the leeward mark, for four cases: pole on the boom or on the foredeck, with either a round-up or a gybe drop. For a round-up, the sequence runs from releasing the genoa halyard coarse tensioner and mast ram and getting the runners on until the forestay is tight, through unfurling the genoa (never with a sagging forestay), to dropping the kite behind the main and rounding up. For a gybe drop, the forestay is tightened with the backstay and the runners released, and the runners are set up again after the gybe. With the pole on the foredeck, drop the pole once the spinnaker is safely in the chute.

Pole on boom, round up

  1. Foredeck person comes back in and lets off genoa halyard coarse tensioner.
  2. Release mast ram.
  3. Coarse runner to upwind mark.
  4. Fine tune runner pulled until forestay goes tight, mast back!
  5. Unfurl genoa (do not unfurl genoa if forestay is sagging).
  6. Open hatch.
  7. Ease guy and bring kite behind mainsail.
  8. Drop spinnaker, close hatch, sheet genoa and main, round up.
  9. When both sails are set and driving, return pole to boom.

Pole on foredeck, round up

Round up as above, but drop pole when spinnaker is safely in chute.

Pole on boom, gybe drop

  1. Foredeck person comes in boat WITH pole.
  2. Release genoa halyard coarse tensioner, and mast forward off.
  3. Backstay on until forestay goes tight, releasing all runners.
  4. Unfurl genoa (do not unfurl if forestay is sagging). Mast back.
  5. Open hatch.
  6. Ease guy and bring kite behind mainsail.
  7. Drop spinnaker, gybe, then sheet in both main and genoa.
  8. Close hatch, set up the runners and release the backstay.

Pole on foredeck, gybe drop

Forget number 1. But do all the rest, as above. Drop the pole when spinnaker is safely in chute, before the gybe.

— Martin ‘Stavros’ Payne

Originally published as “Technical Tips 11 – Leeward Drops Under Pressure” in the BDA Magazine 2007 Annual. © Martin Payne and the British Dragon Association. Reproduced with permission.

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