gybe

END-FOR-END GYBES
USING LAZY SHEETS AND GUYS

Soreted chronologically
Kame Richards / Pineapple Sails

This procedure describes a method for gybing a boat in the 25 to 35 foot range assuming a fairly windy day. By “fairly windy” I mean you are concerned you might have control problems during the gybe. The "LAZY SHEETS AND GUYS" implies there are two lines on each clew of the spinnaker, so at any one time, one of these lines can be slack. During a gybe both the port and starboard afterguys will be slack. This will allow the foredeck person to complete their job without having to exert super-human strength in order to push the pole out. During this time the spinnaker is controlled by the two sheets.

To see the same information job (cerw member), click here.

In this example we are gybing from starboard pole to port pole, with a crew of six people. I am asking one person to deal with the afterguy and lazy sheet on one side of the cockpit, and another crew member to deal with the spinnaker sheet and lazy guy on the other side of the cockpit. I have given the control of the foreguy to a single person, which is not really a full time job. The foreguy trimmer should help out grinding in the cockpit.

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

1. 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?

2. MAST / FOREDECK

Move spinnaker pole car to a height you can comfortably reach

3. FOREGUY

Get somebody on the foreguy (it will need easing).

4. STARBOARD LINES

AFTERGUY Prepare the afterguy to be squared back (needs a handle).

LAZY SHEET Get the lazy sheet around a winch and pull out all the slack in the line. If you are using spinnaker “twings” on the sheets, pull them on tight.

5. PORT LINES

LAZY GUY Loosen the wraps from the winch so the bow person can pull out the necessary slack.

SHEET Get ready to ease during the "square-back." If you are using spinnaker “twings,” pull them on tight.

6. 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 “SQUARE-BACK.”.

B. "SQUARE BACK" This call comes from the driver.

1. 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!

2. MAST / FOREDECK

Wait, but have the lazy after guy (port side in this case) in your hand.

3. FOREGUY

Ease the foreguy as the pole moves aft.

4. STARBOARD LINES

AFTERGUY Grind aft the afterguy, being careful not to collapse the spinnaker.

LAZY SHEET It will have to take care of itself for now

5. PORT LINES

LAZY GUY It will have to take care of itself for now. This is a good time to move the winch handle into the afterguy winch.

SHEET Ease the sheet as the boat bears off, being careful not to collapse the spinnaker.

6. MAINSAIL

Ease the mainsheet as the boat bears off.

C. "TRIP" This call comes from the driver.

1. 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. [NOTE: If the pole is tripped before the boat heels to weather, the load on the afterguy will aggressively shove the pole to leeward, in this case towards the left hand side of the boat. When this happens, the whole spinnaker is moving to the left, which will tend to make the boat want to turn aggressively to the right, which is not the direction we need to turn to complete the gybe… Tripping late is better than tripping early.]

2. MAST / FOREDECK

Trip/open the inboard end of the pole and remove the pole from the mast. Place the lazy guy into this end of the pole and push the pole towards the new side of the boat, to port in this case. The pole needs to go outboard and rotate forwards, towards the tack of the spinnaker. It should go out easily because there should be no tension in the lazy guy.

3. FOREGUY

The foreguy will remain useless until the pole is back on the mast and the new afterguy in under tension.

4. STARBOARD LINES

AFTERGUY As soon as the "TRIP" call is made, and the pole has come off the mast, you are done with this line. Keep tension in it with one hand while you transfer the load to the new sheet with your other hand. Leave the after guy uncleated.

LAZY SHEET / ACTIVE SHEET As soon as the "TRIP" call is made, this has become the active sheet. Transfer the winch handle into this winch.

5. PORT LINES

LAZY GUY Keep waiting!

SHEET Fly the spinnaker, but don't ease the clew past the headstay

6. MAINSAIL

Gybe the mainsail at the "trip" call.

D. "MADE" This call comes from the mast / foredeck person. 1. 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. 2. MAST / FOREDECK Now remove the pole from the old/starboard side after guy, and attach this end of the pole onto the mast. Do not call made until the pole is securely on the mast. 3. FOREGUY Waiting… 4. STARBOARD LINES OLD AFTERGUY This line has no function and needs no attention. When the new sheet is under control, remove the wraps of the now lazy guy from around its winch so it won’t affect your trimming of the sheet. 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. 5. PORT LINES NEW AFTERGUY No more waiting now!. As soon as the "made" call comes through, grind the pole aft FAST!. Watch the outboard end of the pole to see that the afterguy is (1) clear on the outboard end, and (2) the tack of the sail is at the pole jaw. OLD SHEET Cleat off the old sheet to prevent the clew of the sail from getting past the headstay. It is all done for this gybe. 6. 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.
E. DONE It is not clear when the gybe is all done! 1. DRIVER Line the boat up on the new course. Watch the sail and the apparent wind angle...don't gybe back! Nobody is ready! Keep talking to the spinnaker trimmers so they know what you are going to do next. 2. MAST / FOREDECK Move the inboard end of the spinnaker pole car back to its normal sailing position. 3. FOREGUY Firm up the foreguy when the pole is in it's proper position. 4. STARBOARD LINES 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. OLD AFTERGUY It is all done, just keep it from dragging in the water. 5. PORT LINES NEW AFTERGUY Trim the afterguy to the current apparent wind angle. Help get the spinnaker pole set to the right height. OLD SHEET Wind the lazy sheet around the after guy to prevent the sheet from dragging in the water. 6. MAINSAIL Trim for the new apparent wind angle.