Windward Mark with Spinnaker

Bear Away Set

This section is written with the assumption that marks are being rounded to port.

Prepare to set

• • CREW - Get the pole in position while sailing upwind.  You should have already attached your topping lift at the dock and placed the pole in the starboard spinnaker ear (for more see the page Rigging the Ideal).  Detach the pole from the bungee at the forward end of the boom and take the pole out of the spinnaker ear.  Place the windward spinnaker sheet in the forward jaw of the spinnaker pole.  Then, while pushing the pole forward with one hand trim the pole topping lift line with the other, and cleat the line.  Then, attach, the aft end of the spinnaker pole to the mast.  Once this is done, go back to your topping lift line and ease or trim until the pole is horizontal to the deck.

    • When sailing on starboard tack, you can do these steps while still on the rail (if its windy) or from in the cockpit (if its light).  Once the pole is hooked up it will be resting against the starboard side of the head stay.

    • When sailing on port tack it is a little harder to hook the pole up ahead of time, but it can be done.  In this scenario once the pole is hooked up it will be pointing to starboard beam of the boat, and sitting aft of the jib's leech, but forward of the shrouds.

  • SKIPPER AND CREW - To turn the boat around the mark, hike as hard to windward as possible.  Over-flattening the boat in this moment will accelerate the turn to leeward.

  • SKIPPER - While hiking, use the tiller to turn the boat around the mark and EASE main sheet as aggressively as possible.  If it's windy, it will run out through your hand.  If its light or moderate air, then you will want to drop the main sheet and grab it again between the ratchet block on the post by your feet and the forward block on the boom.  Start pulling the mainsheet through the ratchet block as hard as possible so the main eases as quickly as possible.

  • CREW - As the boat is bearing away, ease the jib sheet 100 percent.  Accomplish this by releasing the sheet on the port and starboard side, and then grabbing the sheet where it attaches to the sail and pulling the jib sheet lose.  Then, take up on the furler line so the jib rolls up.

Setting the Spinnaker

• • SKIPPER - Reach forward for the sheet and guy.  Continue steering with the tiller extension.  Put the sheet and guy in your forward hand.  Use your tiller hand to trim one or the other as needed.

  • CREW - Hoist the spinnaker using big, over-the-shoulder pulls on the halyard.  CLEAT the spinnaker halyard.  Look up and check that the sail is at the top of the mast.

  • SKIPPER - Pass the guy to the crew and ask, "got it?"  Wait for the reply "got it" before letting go of the guy.  Continue as the trimmer for the spinnaker sheet for now.  Steer to your desired course while communicating with the crew about pole angle.

  • CREW - Now that you have the guy in hand, use it to move the pole forward or aft as per the skipper's instructions and course adjustment.  When the skipper is happy with the course and the position of the pole, cleat the guy.

  • CREW - Fully tension the windward twing.  Ease entirely the leeward twing.

  • SKIPPER - Pass the sheet to the crew and ask, "got it?"  Wait for the reply "got it" before letting go of the sheet.

  • CREW - Now that you are flying the spinnaker, be sure you are sitting to windward.  The skipper will likely be sitting to leeward unless the skipper's weight is needed to windward.  The Boatspeed page has more on sail trim, wind angle, heeling angle, and weight placement when sailing downwind.

Setting the Spinnaker with Dave and Betsy Perry

Additional Spinnaker Set Video