DIP POLE GYBES USING LAZY SHEETS AND GUY

Kame Richards / Pineapple Sails

This is a detailed description of the steps needed to complete a dip pole gybe on a boat in the 35 foot plus range.

This style of gybe would work well in six knots of apparent wind or more. If the spinnaker collapses during the "square back" step because the apparent wind speed drops too low for the sail to fly, a different style of gybe is needed. (See a future article on this subject.)

The information is available in two outline forms, this one, which is a chronological overview of the whole boat...essentially a managers view, and a second one, reorganized to the job-specific view showing what each task should be doing, in order. The jobs are divided up into tasks, not necessarily requiring a person dedicated to each task, but something which must be done.

If you haven't done so already, take a moment and establish some 'pre-determined marks' to help gybe the spinnaker pole. With no spinnaker up, rig the spinnaker pole to the car on the mast and the topping lift. We want to determine two things: (1) the height of the car on the mast and (2) the location on the toppinglift which will allow the spinnaker pole to dip behind the forestay and stay above the bow pulpit, so the foredeck person can easily reach the pole tip. A piece of white tape on both sides of the mast make good markers for the spinnaker pole car, and , for the topping lift, a large black band completely around the topping lift about 4 inches long and an alignment mark on the deck (in front of the winch).

An explanation of the graphics

"SET-UP" This call comes from the driver.

DRIVER
Call "set up for the gybe" loud enough for everyone to hear. Get an idea on what the heading is going to be on the new gybe. Watch how quickly the crew is getting ready. Are they covering all bases?
BOW PERSON
Be sure you have enough lazy afterguy at your disposal. Double check that the lazy spinnaker sheet is OVER the top of the spinnaker pole, not hanging down outside the pole tip.
MAST PERSON
Move spinnaker pole car up to the gybing position. This should be at a pre-determined mark.
TOPPING LIFT
Place topping lift around winch, and if there is a sheet stopper, be sure it is all the way open.
AFTERGUY
Prepare the afterguy to be squared back (needs a handle).
LAZY SHEET
Get the lazy sheet around a winch. It will need a handle soon too. Constantly watch to be sure the lazy sheet stays on top of the spinnaker pole.
FOREGUY
Get somebody on the foreguy (it will need easing).
LAZY GUY
Remove all wraps from the winch so the bow person can pull out the necessary slack.
SHEET
Get ready to ease during the "square-back."
MAINSAIL
Cleat the traveler on both sides to prevent the traveler car from banging into the end of the track. Get ready to ease the main sheet during the gybe.

"SQUARE BACK" This call comes from the driver.

DRIVER
Start the boat bearing off, usually before you ask for the square back, but after you are convinced the important bases are covered. Watch the spinnaker and the mast head windex, and the angle of heel. Keep the cockpit crew appraised of how the bear-off is going, like slowly, or move faster!
BOW PERSON
Hold the lazy guy your favorite way to get it into the pole jaw properly. Watch the driver and angle of heel for clues as to when the "trip" call will come.
MAST
Hold onto the trip line on the pole.
TOPPING LIFT
Start easing the topping lift slightly (inches), and know where the pre-determined mark on the topping lift is for life-line and pulpit clearance for the spinnaker pole.
AFTERGUY
Grind aft the afterguy, being careful not to collapse the spinnaker.
LAZY SHEET
Trim aft the lazy sheet along with the afterguy. From now on the lazy sheet needs to be kept tight.
FOREGUY
Ease the foreguy as the pole moves aft.
LAZY GUY
Do nothing at this time.
SHEET
Ease the sheet as the boat bears off, being careful not to collapse the spinnaker.
MAINSAIL
Ease the mainsheet as the boat bears off.

"TRIP" This call comes from the driver.

DRIVER
The first time the boat heels to weather, call "TRIP!" loud enough for all the crew to hear. Keep the boat turning continuously through the gybe. DO NOT try to sail dead down wind while the gybe is completed. In light air the boat will not heel to weather, so call "TRIP" just before the boat is on a dead-down-wind heading.
BOW PERSON
Focus on the incoming pole. Hold the lazy guy in two hands with about a foot of guy between them. Catch the jaws of the pole with this loop. Resist the urge to catch the pole with your hands.
MAST
Trip open the pole jaw with the trip line, and swing the pole in towards the bow with the trip line. Look to be sure the pole jaw has really opened and the old afterguy has come out. Your next area of concern will be helping to get the topping lift back up by bouncing at the mast. Move in that direction.
TOPPING LIFT
Look at the black mark on the topping lift and ease quickly to the proper location. Focus on the mark more than the pole. If the car on the mast is in the right place the pole will end up in the right place.
AFTERGUY
As soon as the "trip" call is made, ease the afterguy about a foot. Leave it uncleated. It has no more bearing on this gybe. Find another job, like grinding on the new after guy.
LAZY SHEET
As soon as the "trip" call is made, this has become the active sheet. The afterguy must go slack in order for the pole to fall out promptly. This is why the lazy sheet has been tensioned through out the square-back.
FOREGUY
A big trim in will help get the pole moving in towards the foredeck.
LAZY GUY
Keep waiting!
SHEET
Fly the spinnaker, but don't ease the clew past the headstay
MAINSAIL
Gybe the mainsail at the "trip" call. The main should be gybed as fast as possible. A slow gybe of the mainsail causes the spinnaker to try to fly in turbulent air for a longer time. This is a common cause of spinnaker collapse.

"MADE" This call comes from the bow person.

DRIVER
Swing the boat onto the new gybe, and hold a steady course. Pay ultimate attention to the apparent wind angle, and the direction the spinnaker wants to move towards. There are big gainers for not collapsing the sail! At this stage it is mostly up to you.
BOW PERSON
When the new afterguy is in the pole jaws, and the jaws have closed, call "MADE!" loud enough for everyone on the boat to hear. The entire crew's actions are at a standstill until the "made" call is announced. It comes from YOU. Hold the pole until the afterguy pulls the pole away. This will prevent a slack afterguy from looping over the end of the pole.
MAST
After the "made!" call, repeat the call while looking aft. Wait for tension in the afterguy, then help pull up the topping lift by bouncing it at the mast. Watch the outboard end of the pole...do not let it poke straight at the sail, which will be a problem if the topping lift is pulled up too fast, before the new afterguy is trimmed in.
TOPPING LIFT
After the "made!" call, pull up the topping lift. Watch the outboard end of the pole...do not let it poke straight into the sail. Tearing the foot out of the spinnaker is not a successful conclusion to a gybe.
OLD AFTERGUY
This line has no function and needs no attention.
NEW SHEET
Keep the spinnaker full. If the square back went well this should be a one person job for a while. If you need help call for a grinder.
FOREGUY
Watch the pole and prevent the tip from "skying"...going too high.
NEW AFTERGUY
No more waiting now!. As soon as the "made" call comes through, grind the pole aft FAST!. This is typically a two person job.
OLD SHEET
Hold on to the old sheet while the afterguy is trimmed aft. Sometimes the old sheet needs to be eased in order to square the pole to the proper position. Do not let the clew of the sail get past the headstay.
MAINSAIL
As long as the mainsail has gone across, look around for someone who needs help...most likely the new spinnaker sheet trimmer, who may need a grinder.

DONE It is not clear when the gybe is all done!

DRIVER
Line the boat up on the new course. Watch the sail and the apparent wind angle...don't gybe back! Nobody is ready! If the air is light, push the boat up onto a reach right away to build up the boat speed again. Keep talking to the spinnaker trimmers so they know what you are going to do next.
BOW PERSON
As soon as the pole is made and you know the new afterguy is cleanly in the jaw you are all done in the bow. Move your weight aft and look for people who need assistance. First choice: help get the topping lift up, and the spinnaker pole car back down to its normal position. If the lazy spinnaker sheet is on top the pole (it typically is at the end of a gybe), pull out the slack and wrap the sheet around the afterguy to prevent the sheet from falling off the top of the pole.
MAST
Move the inboard end of the spinnaker pole car back to its normal sailing position.
TOPPING LIFT
Trim the topping lift to the proper height for the current conditions.
NEW SHEET
Back in the saddle again...if the sheet doesn't need to be trimmed in, try easing it until the spinnaker luffs. Be sure you have a grinder.
NEW AFTERGUY
Trim the afterguy to the current apparent wind angle. Help get the spinnaker pole set to the right height.
FOREGUY
Firm up the foreguy when the pole is in it's proper position.
OLD SHEET
This is the perfect time to be sure the lazy sheet is over the top of the spinnaker pole. It usually ends up on top at the end of a gybe. Wind the lazy sheet around the guy to prevent the sheet from falling off the top of the pole.
MAINSAIL
Trim for the new apparent wind angle.