Shorthanded 40.7 First
- Thread starter yachtsman
- Start date
My wife and I race our 423 (JAM only) and do pretty well (furling headsail and Classic main). The question is the type and length of the course. For instance JAM and around the buoys short course no problem. Long distance or with a lot of tacks and you'll be wore out. Spinnaker - forget about it.
My partner and I short-hand our First 36.7 all the time. Similar boat/rig. Some thoughts/questions.
First is if your racing allows the use of an Autopilot while racing shorthanded. If they do, get the BEST below-deck one you can, and get the remote control.
Most of the time we human drive, except in maneuvers. Upwind, crew should trim head-sail to upwind conditions, and then tend to main.
Driver and crew as far up on the rail as you can. No standing behind the wheel!
When tacking, set the traveler for the tack, and then crew tend to the headsail during the tack. Then pull the traveler up to upwind trim.
Assuming sailing with spinnaker. Doing this JAM is a no-brainer.
We use both asyms and syms when racing. Shorthanded is usually point-to-point distance racing, so if we can use only asyms we will. They are faster reaching. Poled kite jibes are possible without an AP, but are much easier with. If light and/or a good DDW section, we will used the poled kites because it's SO much faster.
The jibe with AP the driver goes forward a station to handle sheets/guys, AND throw the main over. Start out deep (150 TWA) and have the AP turn the boat through 60 degrees. Bow person must be able to jibe the pole in a fluid motion as the boat turns under AP.
Jibing an asym tacked to the bow is much easier without an AP than a poled kite. Most of the times we have the driver throw the main over while turning the wheel with one hand from in front, and crew works the sheets to get the kite around.
FOR SURE use your furling headsail. When we raced crewed we swap for our class sails that ride in the foil, but SH we always use our furling sails.
When we race crewed I typically drive but shorthanded Pia drives. Shorthanded crewing is MUCH more work than driving, and its better to put the stronger/more athletic/nimble person on the chores. 90% of good shorthanded M/F crews I know do this.
First is if your racing allows the use of an Autopilot while racing shorthanded. If they do, get the BEST below-deck one you can, and get the remote control.
Most of the time we human drive, except in maneuvers. Upwind, crew should trim head-sail to upwind conditions, and then tend to main.
Driver and crew as far up on the rail as you can. No standing behind the wheel!
When tacking, set the traveler for the tack, and then crew tend to the headsail during the tack. Then pull the traveler up to upwind trim.
Assuming sailing with spinnaker. Doing this JAM is a no-brainer.
We use both asyms and syms when racing. Shorthanded is usually point-to-point distance racing, so if we can use only asyms we will. They are faster reaching. Poled kite jibes are possible without an AP, but are much easier with. If light and/or a good DDW section, we will used the poled kites because it's SO much faster.
The jibe with AP the driver goes forward a station to handle sheets/guys, AND throw the main over. Start out deep (150 TWA) and have the AP turn the boat through 60 degrees. Bow person must be able to jibe the pole in a fluid motion as the boat turns under AP.
Jibing an asym tacked to the bow is much easier without an AP than a poled kite. Most of the times we have the driver throw the main over while turning the wheel with one hand from in front, and crew works the sheets to get the kite around.
FOR SURE use your furling headsail. When we raced crewed we swap for our class sails that ride in the foil, but SH we always use our furling sails.
When we race crewed I typically drive but shorthanded Pia drives. Shorthanded crewing is MUCH more work than driving, and its better to put the stronger/more athletic/nimble person on the chores. 90% of good shorthanded M/F crews I know do this.