What is it about spinnakers that is so nerve racking?
Spinnakers have a complex reputation. On one hand - it’s love!
There is always that “wow!” when they fill with air and cast their colourful glow down onto the deck below them.
They are as beautiful as they are powerful. And I suppose that’s the other side of the story. Their power, their size, their potential for error and then of course…
… ah yes … most sailors probably wouldn’t want to call it fear, but let’s just admit it. Turn downwind and call “hoist”, and all our hearts start beating just that little bit faster.
Having sailed many thousands of miles under spinnaker with amateur crews, I’ve observed that a well- trained and informed crew is a safe and effective one. Fear reduces as knowledge increases.
An unsure or nervous crew (and even more, skipper) soon leads to a stressful, panic stricken, and shouty environment. This tension is a breeding ground for mistakes.
Classic. Once again we shoot ourselves in the foot. Our fear of error is in itself what most contributes to disaster.
Understanding spinnakers, getting hands on experience in rigging them, hoisting them and dropping them is the only way to get comfortable. I’ve made the mistake of over briefing it. And all it does, is just increase anticipation. By the time someone goes to attach a halyard, they can barely open the clip from shaking hands.
So, to help avoid you feeling ‘the fear’ and set you up for spinnaker success, I’ve written out a few processes for you!
I’ve translated what I teach for rigging, hoisting and dropping an asymmetric spinnaker for you into three step-by-step guides. I hope that having these will feel like you have a little of the expert coach by your side next time you find yourself on the bow with three corners, three ropes, and a whole load of tissue paper sail cloth…
If you are a Founding Member you can download the quick-look guide for this.
Ropes & Ingredients
An asymmetric spinnaker!
Sail-tie (or clips on the bag) to tie the sail bag to the foredeck.
If you have a spinnaker ‘sock’; a sock-line.
Tack-line.
Spinnaker halyard.
x2 spinnaker sheets: a windward, and a leeward.
If you have a retractable bowsprit: a ‘pole-out’ line. (This is a line that pulls the bow-sprit forward).
Headsail sheets.
Headsail furling line (for furling headsails only)
Headsail halyard (for hoist/drop headsails only)