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George – I’ve sailed 3-up with 2 of my kids as crew for the past 7 seasons. We started racing together when my daughter was only 8-yrs old and not too strong, so some of the responsibilities were assigned to account for different crew capabilities. We really haven’t changed much since then because we just got used to how it all worked. Here’s our program:
Upwind: Forward crew trims the jib, middle crew performs miscellaneous tasks as needed for forward crew and skipper (mostly straightening lines and helping give the skipper extra eyes outside the boat to provide tactical info).
Windward Mark – Leeward Spinnaker Set: Forward crew eases jib and then rigs the pole while middle crew raises the board and takes over jib trim. Skipper eases the main, adjusts vang as needed, raises spinnaker and gets the chute flying before handing spinnaker sheets to forward crew when available.
Windward Mark – Windward Spinnaker Set: Same as leeward set except forward crew throws chute out in front of jib while skipper hoists and then rigs the pole after the chute is up and full.
Jibing: Forward crew passes spinnaker sheets to skipper, takes guy out of guy hook, and begins to pull boom to centerline as boat heads down. Skipper pulls boom over as boat turns through dead downwind. Forward crew crosses and transfers pole to new windward side while skipper flies the chute. Middle crew transitions jib from one side to the other and straightens spinnaker sheet tails. Forward crew resumes spinnaker trim when done with pole and placing the new guy in the guy hook.Leeward Mark: Forward crew hands spinnaker sheets back to skipper, takes down pole, then packs the chute in the windward turtle as skipper eases halyard (we perform windward take-downs about 95% of the time). Middle crew drops the board, stows the pole, straightens lines, and trims the jib as we make the turn while forward finishes packing the chute into the turtle (if we dropped late). Forward crew then resumes jib trim.
I would recommend shifting all spinnaker trim responsibilities to the middle crew if they are capable.and willing. This would limit the need to hand spinnaker sheets back and forth as we do. We have not made this change because we’ve gotten quite proficient with the program as it is (since we’ve been using for so long) and because my middle crew really does not have the desire to fly the chute. In the end, you have to come up with a system that works for your crew and their particular abilities.
I hope this was helpful.
Bill
FS 5193
Flying Fish <><Somewhere in Mississippi, but I didn’t catch the exact location. The 2011 NAC will be at Cedar Point YC in Connecticut.
I can’t give you the exact dimensions of the spinnaker for each of these classes, but I can give you some relative information from my experience owning both a Thstle and Flying Scot. The Thistle spinnaker carries 20 sqft more area than the FS spinnaker and is narrower at the foot, but taller (longer luffs). An indirect indication of the narrower foot of the Thistle chute is given by the relative length of the spinnaker poles for each boat. The FS pole is 7-feet long, but the Thistle pole is a full foot shorter (6-feet long).
Hope this helps.
Bill
FS 5193 Flying Fish <>< Thistle 1791 Scarlet Fever (former owner)If you are planning to race, please be aware that attaching a block to the clew of the main is forbidden by class rules. My outhaul uses a 3:1 tackle by near the forward end of the boom that is multiplied 2x at the aft end by running through a micro block attached end of the boom, forward through the clew cringle in the sail, then back to the end of the boom where it ends. This system works well for my crew, and gives all the purchase necessary for them to apply a sharp crease in the foot of the sail when minimum draft is called for.
Bill
FS 5193
Flying Fish <><
