[C320-list] Tacking Efficiently in Racing

[Charles Greenwell]

Another good thing to do, is for the helmsman to count down the tack...
5,4,3,2,1... "Helms Over". This helps set the timing so that you are not
going too fast or too slow.

 

Then the helmsman calls out "Head to wind".  This signals the trimmer to
release the sheet.  This way the trimmer does not need to watch the head
sail and can concentrate on the release.  When he releases the sheet, it
is very important that he does not unwind it from the winch but pulls
the sheet  straight up,  off of the winch, so that the sheet unwinds
naturally and faster. Lots of novice trimmers unwind the sheet from the
winch which is slow and puts kinks in the sheet thus preventing it from
feeding through the jib cars smoothly.

 

If you are lucky enough to have an extra body, have that person place
himself up near the stays next to the mast.  He can help the jib around
the stays to the other side.   This keeps the 155 from getting stuck on
the stays (kind of like a self tacking mechanism only using humans
instead).  This is especially important in lighter air and gets the jib
around faster.

 

And finally, practice!  Before the race do a few tacks.  

 

Randy

LeBijou #719