Race Boat Crewing Video

Pit
(Copyright 2004)

Overview
Adjusts halyards, spinnaker pole settings, and some sail settings.
Organizes boats interior, and retrieves and stows sails.
Works directly with bowman, mastman, and trimmers to affect
maneuvers, sail changes, and sail trim.
Preparation
Stow heaviest items as low as possible below ideally above the keel.
Place sails on floorboards in order of their intended use.
Store important items such as spare sheets close to the
companionway for easy retrieval.
Check that all spinnakers are race packed.
Organize all control lines and halyards to make sure they are free to
run.
Pre Start
Call time to the start. Be sure to speak loud, clear, and constant.
Assist trimmers by helping to keep the cockpit lines clear.
Upwind
Adjust settings such as the vang, outhaul, or jib halyard. Before you
leave the rail make sure to check with the back of the boat first.
Leave the jib halyard on the winch with the handle in facing inboard
so that halyard tension can easily be adjusted upwind.
Windward Mark
Bear Away Set
Bring spinnaker on deck for bowman as the boat approaches the
windward mark if it is not already connected.
Bring topping lift and spinnaker halyard tails with you to the rail on
the last tack to the windward mark.

 Tail topping lift from the rail when the bowman raises the pole. Make
sure it doesnt get caught between the jib and headstay on the way up.
Tail spinnaker halyard from the rail as it is hoisted until the boat
flattens out. Or jump off the rail at the last moment to tail.
Make sure to keep up with the mastman so the halyard doesnt jam at
the turning block. In heavy air the final part of the hoist may have to
be winched.
Immediately drop the jib halyard once the kite is up. Sometimes a
floater can do this if you are still working on the spinnaker halyard.
Ease upwind main settings such as outhaul, cunningham, and vang to
their downwind marks. Some boats will also require that the rig be
wound forward after the bowman has secured the end of the halyard
to the bow.
Flake entire spinnaker halyard from the working end to the tail
making sure it is ready to run free at the drop.
Tack Set
Pull the spinnaker halyard first, then the topping lift. A floater may be
able to tail the topping lift simultaneously.
Drop jib.
Flake spinnaker halyard.
Gybe Set
Pull the spinnaker halyard during the gybe.
Pull the topping lift after the gybe. A floater may be able to tail the
topping lift simultaneously.
Drop jib.
Flake spinnaker halyard.
Downwind
Monitor and adjust pole height.
Assist spinnaker trimmer by grinding the sheet from the cabin top
winch.
Adjust main outhaul, cunningham, and vang.
Dip Pole
Drop the outboard end of the pole to the bowman when the trip is
called.
Pull the outboard end of the pole back up before the pole is squared.

End for End

Lower pole to bowman if necessary.
Ease old twing line and pull on the new one as the boat gybes if
applicable.
Raise the pole again.
Leeward Mark
Adjust all main settings back to their upwind positions, ease rig back,
and load up the new jib halyard for the hoist.
Raise the jib when its called for and grind the halyard on the port
cabin top winch back to its upwind setting.
Windward Drop
Raise jib then lower the pole. Watch to see that the bowman has the
pole secured and is ready for the drop.
Blow spinnaker halyard fast enough to collapse the entire sail. (This
is usually two thirds of the way down)
Stop halyard momentarily to see that the foredeck crew has it under
control and then lower the rest of it to them.
Move to rail.
Leeward Drop
Blowing at least two thirds of the halyard at once.
Release the rest of the halyard when foredeck is ready for it.
Lower topping lift to the bow man when hes ready for it.
Move to rail.
Gybe Drop
Raise jib on port side.
Set the jib halyard up on the starboard cabin top winch to tension it.
Then clear the winch.
Lower the pole to the bowman.
Drop the entire halyard to the foredeck crew, but monitor the drop as
the boat gybes to make sure the foredeck crew has control of the sail.
Move to rail.

Tricks of the Trade

Mark every control line that you will adjust during the race with a
permanent pen. Halyard marks should line up with a corresponding
mark on the deck when they are at full hoist. The jib halyard may
have multiple marks for different wind ranges.
Flake the working halyard using large figure eights between your
hand and the winch. Once its coiled drop it in a clear space below
with the tail at the bottom and the working end on top so it can run
free.
When stowing spare gear extra water bottles can be placed under the
floorboards if theyll fit. Make sure to leave some on deck for the
race.
Store the changing sheet in the companion way with a slip knot so it
can be quickly retrieved from on deck.
The quick method for packing a spinnaker is to start by running the
foot of the sail and throw the clews to either side of you. Then sit on
the open spinnaker bag and find the center seam of the sail. Work
your way quickly through the sail throwing any green or red luff
tapes to the side with the corresponding clew color. When you reach
the head secure it to the sail bag with the center Velcro tab and stuff
each side of the spinnaker into each side of the bag. Lastly secure the
clews and close the bag. It is now ready for the next hoist.
Key: Keep the pit organized, and stay in tune with the foredeck crew!