HOW TO ... set up a headsail pole
Sail downwind safely, quickly and confidently once you know how to set up a pole correctly
The feeling on a boat when the wind shifts round aft of the beam is unparalleled. You leave the upwind assault in your wake, and relief fills the soul. Similar to that feeling ‘post storm’ - it transforms the atmosphere onboard.
Upwind, life on deck is antisocial. Hoods are up, faces are lowered, and staying dry and warm takes precedent over conversation.
Down below, there is a symphony of misery. After every BANG as the hull slams the concrete-like surface of the water there are grunts followed by sharp intakes of breath as the crew sense the torture coming again. The pots clang on the gimbled stove. The cans clunk in the bilges. The halyards slap the mast like a drum. And the wind howls a haunting song.
And then, the boat flattens out. The orchestra departs. In its place, a gentle snoring as your crew mates finally start sleeping.
Downwind, it’s remarkable how peaceful the deck can be in the same wind and the same ocean. The on-watch team slowly realise they can lift their chins up and pull their hoods off and look around at the beauty surrounding them now that they don't risk a face watering. The boat begins to accelerate and smooth out. A day or so later, it's like you have started living in a different life altogether.
As I write this, I think of the first Atlantic crossing I skippered. It was 2013. Instead of three weeks downwind, we were slapped in the face by 10 days of upwind sailing on departing the Canary Islands. The day that the easterlies filled in was nothing but euphoric.
After such confused weather, the following seas were sharp and violent - almost 15 feet some days. But, with a poled out headsail we could take them square on behind us. With every wave, the boat’s backside would lift up with a wave and slide forward like a surfer. As it did it would accelerate and the helm would gain more steerage. When we exceeded 8 knots or so the hull would hum, and the boat would get this lightness to it - like we were no longer surfing through water, but more like surfing through silk.
With every peak, came a trough. We would plunge almost in slow motion into the trough of a wave set, slow right down and then the whole thing would roll back up again. Over and over again. Each surf and each wave different and yet at the same time they were so repetitive and predictable and rhythmic. We see-sawed like this all the way to St Lucia.
What is it like to sail a boat with a poled out headsail? It’s like a dance with nature. Pole-out one side and boom out the other - like wings you sway. The ocean is the lead, and you follow - pushed, pulled - wherever she wants to go.
On that Atlantic crossing I really learnt not just how to drive a boat downwind, but also how to teach it. The crew learnt how to be taught and supple at the same time. Their legs fiercely tensed as they stood ‘on point’ at the helm; like a ballet dancer their muscles bulged as they balanced on the ever moving surface. At the same time, they flowed. Their arms and their boat swept left and right in time with the boat. And thus, strong like a waterfall and light like its foam, we floated 1000NM across the ocean’s stage.
Sailing downwind with a pole out is one of my most favourite ways to sail. It has taken me safely across many thousands of miles. And it has taught me the very essence of what good sailing is about. It’s empowering and powerful. But, to find that strength you must be equally malleable and supple. The trick is not to control or manage nature, but to glide with her.
The first stage to this learning is of course figuring out how to set the sails. Using a pole is a key part of this. Read on for my guide. I hope it helps.
Definitions
‘Goose-winging’; ‘wing-on-wing’; ‘butterfly’; ‘winged out’; ‘poled out’ …
… as is the way with nautical terminology and the English language, we have so many words for the same thing. No wonder people find sailing downwind overwhelming and intimidating. And, that’s before they are even on the water.
Many names for the same thing can leave everyone feeling like they don’t understand one another. The self-assured sailors amongst us will consider everyone else stupid. The humbler sailors will feel that everyone else must know something they don’t. Ultimately, everyone leaves the conversation feeling a bit down-trodden - we all just want to feel understood after all.
In fact, we are all wrong! Or … we are all right. Hmmm. A bit of both? As tempting as it is to classify everything in life into ‘right or wrong’, ‘black and white’, ‘good or bad’, and ‘stupid and smart’ - it's often not the case. Sailing, like life, exists predominantly in the grey.
So, to be clear: what we are talking about here is sailing deep downwind with the headsail on one side of the boat and the mainsail (and boom) on the other side of the boat. The headsail flops about annoyingly if you try to do this without any supporting mechanism holding it to the windward side. Therefore, we ‘pole-out’ the headsail; we hold the clew to windward with a long stick called a ‘pole’.
A ‘whisker pole’ is the name for a pole that is designed to be used for poling out a headsail.
A ‘spinnaker pole’ is the name for a pole that is designed to be used for poling out a spinnaker. Because a spinnaker is larger and more powerful than a headsail, this pole is bigger and stronger than a whisker pole. Therefore, it can also be used as a headsail pole.
To confirm, it is unlikely that a whisker pole will be wide enough or strong enough to be used as a spinnaker pole.
I just call them all ‘poles’. Admittedly, it’s probably because I didn’t know the difference between the two until recently.
And, for anyone who fears ‘getting the words wrong’ [like me], just follow my suit. Don’t let the finer details get in the way of you learning the big picture. The key, is that you know how to use it all, and why. Then you can smooth out the ‘proper’ way to sail.
And on the note of words… some people call poles ‘booms’. I find it confusing! They don’t. The key is, to adapt to the boat you are on.*
*With regards to the topic of ‘what to call things’, you might find this guide to communication worth a read.
Ropes & Ingredients
A headsail
A pole
Headsail sheets
Furling line [if your headsail furls]
Pole downhaul line [also called ‘foreguy’; ‘pole-down’] - this pulls the pole down and forward.
Pole uphaul line [also called ‘pole up’; ‘pole topping lift’] - this pulls the pole up.
Guy [also called ‘after-guy’; ‘pole-back’] - this pulls the pole towards the back of the boat.
Clip points - hard points on the pole or strops along the pole that you can tie things to.
Method
Some poles are stored on the mast, some on the deck and even down below. I’ve tried to create a method that you can apply to all situations. But, please don’t hesitate to ask questions in the comments.
Preparation
1. Sail on a broad reach.
A flat boat is the safest boat to work on for both the life of the pole, and the life of the bow crew!
If you have a furling headsail, furl it away so that it poses no risk to the bow team. Then sail as close to dead downwind without risking a gybe or a broach. 165 TWA is a good ‘go-to’.
If you have a hoist-drop headsail, hoist it and sail a comfortable broad reach. The broad reach needs to be an angle that will not risk the headsail flopping around and endangering the bow crew, whilst also ensuring a flat enough boat. Normally 140-145 TWA is about right.