DSK wrote:


It'd help. One thing you can do is either a slow "floater" douse or a
gybe douse (at one time called the "mexican takedown"). The floater is
probably a bit easier. Put the boat slightly by the lee, pull the pole
back all the way, get the sail flying & stable. Then unclip the guy from
the pole and start hauling it in. The sail should fly out to the side
and stay mostly filled, ie "floating." When you've gathered in a good
bit of the foot, start dropping the halyard and bundle the sail into the
cockpit as it falls. Don't step on it, spinnaker sailcloth is slippery!
The floater works well because you can pull the sail aft without much
risk of it going in the water. This is also the basis of several types
of windward take downs.


I've never done a drop like this single handed. I'm not sure how well it
would work. I always thought that for a floater drop you over trim with
a tight foot gathing the leech and don't release the pole until it
is well on board. The pole stops it dropping in the water... Doug,
is this really a good method for a single handed crew? How big is this
spinnaker?

Cheers