Trimming the spinnaker
Set it right
The spinnaker is most efficient when there is a flow of air across it. The leading windward edge should be pulled aft with the guy until it is close to curling inwards. The height of the pole should be adjusted so both clews of the spinnaker are the same height above the deck. Wherever the leeward clew is, adjust both ends of the pole to match it and keep the pole horizontal.
reaching
If the course is a beam or close reach the guy is eased forward and the sheet wound in. The pole will need to be lowered to keep the luff tight and the clews level. Ease the uphaul and tension the downhaul and slide the heel of the pole down the mast. Avoid allowing the pole to press against the forestay as this can cause damage to the foil track for the jib and in extremis can break the pole . The main usually has to be sheeted in further than normal for this point of sail to prevent it from being backwinded. Be ready to ease the main and kicker if you become overpowered.
running
With the wind further aft the pole is brought back by winding in the guy and easing the sheet while keeping the leading edge almost curling. Remember to ease the pole downhaul as the pole comes back. Keep the spinnaker close to the boat — don’t let it fly too far away from the forestay or it will rock from side to side. With wind astern the sail is more stable if the sheet is pulled down to towards the toe rail halfway down the boat by a barber hauler. Racing sailors never cleat the guy or the sheet.
The dip pole gybe
Steer on a very broad reach without collapsing the spinnaker. Raise the heel of the pole up the track on the mast. Wind in the lazy sheet on the windward side on a winch. The guy, which is through the pole, is now slack. The foredeck crew releases the jaws on the end of the pole and the guy will lift out leaving the spinnaker flying with the sheets and no pole. The helm has to steer carefully to keep the spinnaker filling, especially if it starts swaying from side to side.
The cockpit crew ease the pole uphaul allowing the end to drop while the foredeck crew swings the outer end of the pole just above the deck inside the forestay. If you have the luxury of a bowman they should be on the pulpit facing aft with the new guy in their hand waiting to drop it into the jaws of the pole. The cockpit crew needs to ensure there is plenty of slack in the new guy.
At this moment a mistake occurs which has happened on nearly every boat I’ve sailed on. It is very easy to drop the new guy into the jaws the wrong way round so there is a twist when the pole goes up again and the spinnaker is on the new gybe.
The bowman shouts ‘Made!’ when the new guy is in the pole. The main is sheeted in and the helmsman gybes as the new guy is wound in, the downhaul eased, the pole raised and the old sheet eased to allow the new guy through the pole to take the strain.
This isn’t something to try for the first time on a windy day, but it can be taken in slow time in light winds while everyone gets their heads around what’s happening. Cruising crews are generally short handed so take it steadily and carefully — it takes months of practice for a racing crew to gybe the pole to make it look like an extension of the boom.