So, we were racing in strong wind (SCA) last week in Long Beach Harbor on a course that required gybing around a mark to lay the finish. It was pretty windy, probably at least 20. (The anemometer is out so I don’t know the exact wind, apparent or true.) One boat saw its jib blown out reaching for that turning mark and retired. We were left trailing the leader by over a minute but less than two. We did the gybe after a short reach along the seawall to get into position. I had set the Wichard boom brake (Gyb’Easy) to the correct tension. We we swung through and recovered our course a bit more quickly than the boat ahead even though we were only three crew to their five (Boom brake works good!). Finished the race second. Rolled up the 120% Genoa with some effort and headed toward harbor.
To enter and align in the channel we had to gybe from Starboard to Port tack. (Essentially, a left-hand turn into the channel.) The brake was still set. I was basically in the pit working the mainsheet, helm was fixed on steering the course between the ripraps lining the channel. We went through again and straightened out only to gasp at seeing our third crew backward, and head down against the starboard lifeline, clinging to it, the boat heeling strongly toward starboard. Jacket on but not tethered. After a couple of minutes we got him up and back into the cockpit. Whew!! Sitting on the cockpit coaming slight inattention was enough to lose balance and go tumbling. Even though I announced “prepare to gybe”, I did not wait for all to acknowledge. Just a reminder that crew cannot “relax” from working the boat until it is safely back in the slip!
To enter and align in the channel we had to gybe from Starboard to Port tack. (Essentially, a left-hand turn into the channel.) The brake was still set. I was basically in the pit working the mainsheet, helm was fixed on steering the course between the ripraps lining the channel. We went through again and straightened out only to gasp at seeing our third crew backward, and head down against the starboard lifeline, clinging to it, the boat heeling strongly toward starboard. Jacket on but not tethered. After a couple of minutes we got him up and back into the cockpit. Whew!! Sitting on the cockpit coaming slight inattention was enough to lose balance and go tumbling. Even though I announced “prepare to gybe”, I did not wait for all to acknowledge. Just a reminder that crew cannot “relax” from working the boat until it is safely back in the slip!
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