Here's how I tack a boat. Others probably have a different approach but this one works for me. First thing is both jib trimmers and the mainsheet/traveler trimmer must be ready for the tack. Sounds silly but it is not The loaded sheet should be off the horn and have maybe 3 wraps. Make sure no one is standing or sitting on the sheet. That sound silly to until you get half way through the tack and find out someone is sitting on the line. The unloaded sheet should have one or two wraps and all excess line is taken up plus the winch handle is inserted. He's just sitting there waiting. The driver gives the command and the boats starts to come up. The winch handle is removed on the loaded sheet. The loaded sheet is held until the boat passes head to wind and the sail backwinds. VERY IMPORTANT (I'll bet 80% of the sailors out there do not perform this step): It is the responsibility of the loaded trimmer to call the break in the sail. At some point just before head to wind the top or bottom of the jib will break (flutter). Depending on which part of the sail breaks first determines which way the unloaded trimmer is going to move the fairlead. At the farthest part of the backwind point (your no longer getting any pushing from the sail)the loaded jib trimmer cuts the jib sheet. An easy way to do it is to just pull the sheet straight up as if you were raising your arm. If you have a self tailer you can spin the line off. At this point the unloaded trimmer has moved the fairlead and inserted his winch handle and starts slowly (I don't mean at a snails pace but not in a wild manner) cranking in the excess line. The other trimmer leaves his position and becomes the line tailer. While all this is going on and when the boat is head to wind the mainsheet/traveler trimmer moves the traveler car to the same position but on the other side of the track. This is especially important if you have a curved track traveler as on the older Catalinas. The car is a bear to move when under load. At head to wind there is no load and the traveler car is easy to move. Now the new loaded jib trimmer proceeds to trim the jib. The mainsheet/traveler trimmer does NOTHING until the jib is trimmed. Then he trims the mainsail. The lazy jib trimmer now moves his fairlead car to the same position as the other car (how many of you do that?)and takes 2 wraps and now he is ready for the next tack. This probably seems complicated but after you do it once it is a snap and takes less than 30 seconds to perform. It really is a joy to see the 3 trimmers, who know what they are doing, go through this function. It is like a dance step!!
All while my "Constant Advisor" blocks my access to the winches and grumbles when I pull the lazy sheet from under her butt. Mike
