MERLIN ROCKET FORUM

Topic : Whats the trick

How do you keep the kite flying through out the gibe...

Its all a bit pot luck for us so what should we be doing.

Ian


Posted: 30/08/2009 22:02:02
By: Ian
Have a look in the training section on the site and there is an excellent article on spinnaker handling.


Posted: 30/08/2009 22:12:56
By: Midlander
Have a look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwvpIq-MTQQ
About 1 min 22 into the video


Posted: 31/08/2009 20:45:30
By: Looks easy
Here's the training link. Not sure I've ever managed to keep the kite going, but I assume the only way is for the crew to look at it, so the helm has to manage everything else...?!

http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/training/Fact%20Sheet%203%20-%20Spinnaker.doc

Posted: 31/08/2009 20:50:09
By: Mags
No Mags - exactly the opposite.  The helm has to pull the guy (pole) sheet as the crew takes off the pole.  This keeps spinnie on the right side of the boat ie behind the jib when you have gybed.

If you don't, spinnie ends back on the shroud and you're in trouble!


Posted: 01/09/2009 10:51:55
By: RichardT
The trick is this
-pull the pole round to downwind position and cleat it.
-stand up and knock the pole off as you gybe thro' still holding the old sheet.
-let go of the sheet as you go to put the new pole on and it should just fly freely.
otherwise the helm can pick up the new sheet (the one you cleated going into the gybe) to help things along the way.

Making sure the helm doesn't gybe thro too great an angle helps too, and the faster its all done the better.

Hope this helps.


Posted: 01/09/2009 10:59:55
By: .
Thanks guys. 

All sounds right to me... I was laying in bed last night thinking... well thinking that I shouldn't be thinking about sailing really... but also thinking that I have to grab the new sheet and keep the kite in the right place.

I'll try it next time out... which will probably be the Sheppy race on Saturday now.

Ian


Posted: 01/09/2009 11:38:54
By: Ian
It's reasonably easy to keep the kite flying through a run-to-run gybe in light to moderate conditions just keep the boat dead level and go slowly through it.  Not nearly so easy if it is blowing hard and not worth worrying about reach to reach as long as you get it set and all up and running quickly on the new gybe, there are usually other issues at a gybe mark.  I agree the key is to pull the old guy/new sheet in before the pole comes off to square off the kite fully, the other thing to do from the training sessions is to actually practice it repeatedly when not racing.

The other thing I have learnt from my swims in the past is to time the gybe - it doesn't feel right to gybe when the boat is going at it's fastest but AFTER the gust has hit and the boat is up to speed and the heaviest bit of wind is past is better than seeing a gust coming and trying to get it done before it hits and ending up still rocking about with the spinny not set at the point it does (see illustrative photos on website of me at Salcombe). Gybing on waves is a doddle if you pick the point when you are surfing full pelt, the main will flip across with no weight in it at all but it just takes a bit of nerve to go for it.


Posted: 01/09/2009 13:57:39
By: Andrew M
I hear a top tip is to practice flying the kite on a run-to-run gybe, and once you've got it, increase the angles gradually, so you can do a broad rach to a broad reach, then tighten it up further if you can.

Definately you need to go out for a hour or two NOT during a race, thats the time to perfect it.


Posted: 01/09/2009 16:33:44
By: Mags

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