Boat Handling & Cadet Teamwork

Sailing Systems: Skipper to Crew

Upwind: 

• Good jib sets – once set up prestart, look at it and set same each time we tack. I will tell you if I want jib changed. 
• Flat Boat! It doesn’t matter if its 1 or 100 knots…. HIKE, the flatter we can get the faster we go.
• Look for wind gusts, other boats, waves, marks etc. 
• Sit as far forward as possible – If you’re on your side = sit in the dog hole, on my side = back against the side 
• Always talk – it may be a dolphin, you’re cold or a big gust, communication is everything, we are a team! 
• Play the vang – It is like a third sheet! Remember pull it on for every gust and ease it off for the lulls. If you’re not sure if you need to change it – Ask! I'm here to help 
• Skippers- use the crew position as the vang gauge- when they come onto the side deck they bring the vang on, and when they go into the cockpit ease it off. 
• If you’ve got nothing to do bail!

Tacking: 

• Firstly check for boats and make sure you’re sheets are not tangled 
• I’ll count down 3, 2, 1 
• On 1 roll the boat on top and lean OUT with your bum in the corner of the crew seat 
• Back the jib – once it is full with wind you can change it and set it again 
• If it’s windy, pull on the leeward sheet and jump up straight away! You can set the windward once the boat is flat 
• If it’s light, stay on the same side and lean out so I can sit down

Spinnaker Hoists – Bear away set (no gybe) 

BEFORE THE MARK 

• Unclip the kite – can be done as early as you want 
• Pole – make sure it is untangled in the boat, while sitting down, lift the kite sheet up to the pole and clip it on, 
push the pole out and attach it to the mast 
• Windward spinnaker sheet in reaching hook
• Going around the mark – ease jib sheets and vang 
• Heavy winds Flatten out boat before hoisting, boat must be flat for hoist. 

AFTER THE MARK 

• Going around the mark – I will hoist the kite with 3 BIG pulls 
• Kite sheet – give the windward sheet to me and take the sheet out of the cleat or my other hand pull some windward sheet/spin out to help get it around forestay and easier for me 
• Position in boat – up on deck, sitting in etc. If it’s windy be ready to sit up on deck 
• Centreboard ask if skipper wants it up 
• Playing the kite – always easing it off and pulling it on, a couple of flaps are ok! Try and keep it just on the edge of curling. 

Downwind: Running or reaching

• Playing the kite – always easing it off and pulling it on, a couple of flaps are ok! Try and keep it just on the edge of curling. 
• Sometimes with very young crews the skipper will play the sheet. 
• Body position – running: try and sit behind the boom (special spot) when you can 
• Lean the boat to me a little bit. Try and help balance. 
• Body position – reaching: depends on wind strength, try and help balance, move back when windy to help planning. HIKE, the flatter we can get the faster we go. 
• If the boat starts to heel a lot (almost about to tip), let go of the spinnaker and hike! 
• Centreboard ask if skipper wants it up 
• Jib – Eased quite a long way out, over sheeting will make spin hard to trim. Try not to sit on sheet.
• Again if you have nothing to do, bail!

Gybing: 

BEFORE GYBING 

• Pass your kite sheet to me and sit in 
• Put the centreboard down • I’ll count down 3, 2, 1 
• Grab the vang and swing the boom across 

AFTER GYBING 

• Change your jib – doesn’t have to be perfect just out of the way 
• New windward spinnaker sheet in reaching hook 
• Stand up and change the pole – reach around the front of the mast, take the pole off both ends, attach the end to the new windward kite sheet, take the other end of the pole and put it on the mast take your time and try not to pull on the windward sheet and upset the flying spinnaker.
• Sit down 
• Centreboard ask if skipper wants it up 
• Try not to wobble around the boat to much – if you get unsteady, put your knee into the kite bag to help you balance or put one foot either side of the centre case
 

Spinnaker Hoists – Gybe then set

BEFORE THE MARK 
• Unclip the kite – can be done as early as you want 
• Pole – change onto the port side (left side) if not already there 
• Windward sheet – Ease off the port sheet and cleat it off, pull on the starboard sheet but make sure the kite doesn’t fly out of the bag just yet! 
• Going around the mark – ease vang 
• Gybe – swing the boom and change jib

AFTER THE GYBE 
• Pole – get it up quickly. I’ll get the windward sheet and sheets organised 
• Windward spinnaker sheet in reaching hook 
• I will hoist the kite with 3 BIG pulls 
• Make sure kite blows around in front of jib/forestay – getting pole up quickly will help this
• Kite sheet - if crew trims-take the sheet out of the cleat or my hand closest to you, -if crew doesn’t trim take windward sheet and cleat it off for me 
• Position in boat - up on deck, sitting in etc 
• Centreboard ask if skipper wants it up 
• Playing the kite – always easing it off and pulling it on, a couple of flaps are ok! Try and keep it just on the edge of curling.

Spinnaker Drops

• Centreboard down 
• Sit in and make sure nothing’s tangled 
• Take the pole down: not too early – not too late. Sometimes, if they can reach the skipper can do it. If the pole is on the port side (left side) you can leave it and get it after the mark rounding. 
• Spinnaker Down! As quickly and neatly as you can, release the kite halyard and pull! Remember to reach as high as you can – bigger movements will take less time, and stop it getting in the water! 
• Bottom mark – if the kite is not fully packed away FORGET about it, the JIB is your first priority, set the jib and pull on vang 
• Clean the boat – once we have rounded the mark and are sailing fast you can finish packing away the kite, this include kite sheets out of the water and pole away, if you can do this by yourself it means the skipper can focus on going the right way A lot of this might be a bit confusing but remember the Skipper is ALWAYS here to help you! So if you don’t understand, please let them know.

One last thing to always remember, and the most import, is to HAVE FUN!!!

A huge thank you to Tony Bull, Australian Coach and Emily Goodfellow, 3x Australian Cadet Sailing Team Member

There is a downloadable version of this document below.