Best practices on launching, jibing, and dousing the spinnaker
So, I'll start...probably the least qualified, but hopefully some of you more experienced Scot sailors will chime in. Plus, my boat is still surrounded by some snow and under tarp. Just some basics to start the discussion, correct any or all of it:
Launching
Pole goes up on last tack unless it will be a jibe set, then the spinnaker goes up and fly it around the jibe and then set the pole. Keep the aft portion of the pole low in the boat so as not to knock out the skipper. Clip in guy, push pole out a bit, hook topping lift, push pole out a bit, clip on mast. Now, I have always used the forward mounted halyard, just installing the clothes reel this spring, so I'd like to hear more on how the crew interacts on the aft halyard launch. With the fwd halyard, the skpper calls for the launch and the crew hauls it up while the skipper works the sheet, guy, tiller, main and centerboard. Where do you like to set the centerboard? I've heard rollers at the top of the hump is a good start, bring it all the way up to fair the cb seal and lose any debris on the centerboard.
Jibing
Release (current) guy from hook, trim. Jibe Main (see previous thread), trim. Place new guy in hook (formerly sheet), trim. Release pole from mast. Release pole from sheet. Swing through. Attach pole to guy. Attach pole to mast. Trim. Done, 15 seconds or less ;)
Dousing
Slack guy, pull foot of spinnaker til clews are together, release halyard, hand over hand the spinnaker into the turtle or under combing, secure halyard, detach pole from mast, guy and finally center eye, keep aft end low, and stow forward. Centerboard down, secure sheets and topping lift.
A respectable source recently told a group of us when handling the pole, focus on one task at a time, keep your hands close to the work that needs to be done. For example, don't be holding the pole in the middle while trying to attach the guy, hold it right at the guy end, clip it in and move on to the next task.
Phil came up with some good scenarios: 2 or 3 up differences? Heavy vs. light air? Rigging differences will play a major role as well. I'm working towards the modern "radical racing" set-up on my older "basic racing" Scot.
Dave
FS3289
CYC Fleet 24