On Oct 15, 11:13*am, Bart wrote:
You are sailing directly downwind in a racer/cruiser,
with a full main set in 25 knots of wind, with gusts
to 34 knots, and want to set a #3 Jib wing and wing
on a spinnaker pole. *The wind has been building
and is expected to peak at 35 knots and the waves
are building also. *Your goal is to get the boat surfing
with an inexperienced crew. *You don't want to set a
spinnaker because you plan to use it for racing the
next few weeks and can't risk damaging it.


I have only one spinnaker? I'd set the "chicken chute" if I had one.
If not, I'd reef the main and set a bigger jib for better steering
stability. I'd also give strong consideration to setting the jib on
the same side as the main, without poling out the sheet, and heading
up to a broad reach for better VMG.


General Question:
What are the steps you would take to set the #3 jib?


Again, depends on the circumstances. Are we in traffic, do we have
some freedom of course to pick, can we reach up for a short while? If
yes, hoist the sail in the lee of the main. If constrained in course
to BBW, I'd muzzle it on the foredeck, pull the weather sheet taut &
run thru the pole, then make sure it clears the lifeline & pulpit as
it goes up. Time consuming and potentially a big snarl.

Specific Questions:

1) How would you securing the spinnaker pole in position?


Same as always, sheet thru pole-end, "make" lift & foreguy, set the
pole up and "make" to mast ring while the trimmer adjusts the lift &
foreguy. Depending on the crew, the boat (length of pole, tendency to
nose-dive, etc) I'd consider putting the pole-end on the clew rather
than let the sheet run, but then you have to to raise & "make" the
pole with the sail set. That can be quicker & more secure but it takes
timing & confidence in crew work.


2) How you would set the #3 jib once the pole is up?


Bring the tack of the sail up and secure it to the stem-head. Bring
the rest of the sail up, keeping it securely muzzled (ie bundled or
flaked with crew carefully keeping it from blowing free); run the luff
to make sure it isn't twisted (here's a big advantage in having the
sail flaked properly) and put the halyard on, then hoist while
ensuring it doesn't get caught under the pulpit or lifelines. If it's
a hank-on, put on the hanks from tack to head before putting on the
halyard. Note- make sure the crew knows to NOT let the halyard fly
free at all costs!

3) What special techniques would you use rig it?


Maybe hauling in the lazy sheet to keep the clew & leach aft as the
sail goes up. If I had a good bowman, he'd make that call based on how
likely it would be the sail would go foul of anything during the
hoist.

One of the nice things about boats with good performance is that they
are easier to steer (generally) and going faster takes a lot of load
off the rig & sails going downwind in a blow. If you're going 15
knots, 25 knot winds become 10. This type of boat also rewards
reaching rather than going DDW too.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King