Symmetrical Spinnaker flying with less crew

[zinahewitt]

Hi All,

Hope your day is going well.
I have a boat.
I have a Symmetrical spinnaker.
I have a spinnaker pole.
I have a jockey pole.


For lines I have a
Halyard to raise the Spinnaker.
A Spinnaker Pole Downhaul
A Spinnaker Pole uphaul.
A Spinnaker Sheet line
A Spinnaker Guy line.
The last two are the same but I understand the name changes depending on the tack you are on.

My goal is to not add another set of lines.
It is not the money, it is just the crew.
Crew these days are hard to find and are not keen on putting the time in training.


So can I gybe safely with the setup in the image attached.
When I want to gybe,
1. I pull the main sheet in to center.
2. I turn from a broad reach to more of a run
3. This releases pressure on the jockey pole, I remove it from one side and place it on "ready".
4. I detach jockey pole and remove it from the guy to the sheet in prep.
4. I gybe
4. I attach the pole back to the mast.
5. I deal with the main sheet.
6. I now attach the jockey pole to the guy on the "new" guy line.
7. I sail to victory and the loud chants of the crowd!!!


I apologize for advance for the weak explanation.
I have only spinnaker sailed 3 times and the instructors can't seem to keep their explanations coherent so we never gybe.
I'd join a race team but I don't feel like being ballast for 2 years and waxing on and off, I have two kids so don't have the time.

 

[Davidasailor26]

You’ve got essentially the right steps listed. You will probably need to deal with the jockey pole less than you expect. That pole’s purpose is to hold out the guy when you’re on a close reach so the guy has a better angle to the spin pole. When you’re on a broad reach or a run (as you would be if you’re gybing) the jockey pole isn’t really necessary.

Pulling the main in first can work in light air, but in a heavier breeze or when you want to be more efficient it’s not optimal. Often the helmsman will work the mainsheet through the gybe, pulling the boom across while the crew switches the spin pole.

 

[garymalmgren]

Hi Zina
RE: Crew these days are hard to find and are not keen on putting the time in training.

Sorry , but THAT is the part that can't be skipped.
The crew that do it better that you are the crew that have put time into training.

gary

 

[dlochner]

I'd join a race team but I don't feel like being ballast for 2 years and waxing on and off, I have two kids so don't have the time.

If you join a team you'll be ballast, aka rail meat, only as long as you decide to be rail meat. Take an interest in what's the skipper is doing, how the crew is handling their jobs and ask some questions. There are mid fleet sailors who are always looking for crew and can be accommodating to crew's family and life's situations. The top of the fleet skippers tend to be more persnickety about crew commitments, however, if you show your worth even they can be accommodating.