A collection of useful links and information on racing Spice.
The most important thing for everyone is to stay safe – this means 1) stay on the boat (one hand for the boat); and 2) know where the loaded or potentially loaded lines are at all times and make sure they can’t bite you. If you have any questions about either of these, please ask!
The second most important thing is to have fun! It is the whole point of doing this, so while we’re all competitive, let’s not let that spoil the fun part.
Here are descriptions of some manoeuvres, explaining what each crew member needs to do, and when. Get these down they should become second nature so that we all know what we’re doing at all times. Thanks to J/44 Resolute for the original versions of these!
- Tacking
- Gybing
- Symmetrical Set: The Bear-Away Set
- Symmetrical Set: The Gybe Set
- Symmetrical Set: The Poleless Gybe Set
- Symmetrical Takedown: Weather Takedown
- Symmetrical Takedown: The Leeward Takedown
- Symmetrical Takedown: The Mexican Takedown
- Symmetrical Takedown: The Letterbox Drop
I’ll get help with the Asymmetrical versions of the hoist and takedowns and get them up before long.
North Sails and the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron posted some sail trim seminars on YouTube during the pandemic, and the rest of us get to benefit from them. The simulator they use is available for your phone or tablet – and is based on the J/35, which is just a slightly smaller J/44 – so everything they talk about applies to us quite nicely!
- RSYS/North Sails Webinar: Mainsail Trim
- RSYS/North Sails Webinar: Jib Trim
- RSYS/North Sails Webinar: Spinnaker Trim
- RSYS/North Sails Webinar: Asymmetric Trim
- RSYS/North Sails Webinar: Reflections and Review
Arvid Gentry was an aerodynamicist and sailor who advanced the understanding of how sails worked a great deal. His work is freely available from a site maintained by his heirs, and is well worth reading.