Having just survived the '04 Nationals can anybody help with any tips about dropping the gennacker in a force 6? We only tried twice and then gave up. Both times it fell into the water and we had great trouble retrieving it.
Is it only possible when sheltered by the main? Are we not doing it quickly enough ?
Hoists......... Helm bears away onto a run while crew moves in to boat to get the kite uphaul.. She passes me the sheet... As she hoists the kite I pull the sheet taught to keep the sail from tying itself in knots and also to prevent it from powering up when we may be unbalanced. When the crew has cleated the halyard, she calls to let me know it's cleated and I allow the kit to fill, pass back the sheet and Start to power up the boat by heading up.. the ammount of heading up depends on space and wind strength.
Drops.... A reverse of a hoist...
Helm bears away onto a run... crew passes helm the sheet and heads for the downhaul. When she's ready to drop the kite, I haul the sheet taught to knock the power out of while she pulls the kite downhaul tight.. THEN.. it is uncleated.. and she pulls like hell on the down haul and I allow the sheet to get pulled into the sock.. then crew prepares the jib and gets ready to go out on the wire..
The success of this procedure hinges on good communication between crew and helm, and also on the downwind angle after a bear away.. if you can hide the kite behind the mainsail you will get a controled hoist and drop.. if the kite is full and exposed there is high chance of you going trawling..
Biggest tip is to bear away before a hoist or a drop.
Dropping the Genny
Forum Locked
Posted - 02 Jul 2004 : 21:01:13
