Spiinaker Drops Part 2

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Last edition we spoke about the need to have a default program to dropping our spinnaker. Develop this and practise it.  As the competence level increases so does our ability to incorporate more complicated manoeuvres into our spinnaker dropping techniques. The first variation is the Port side windward drop discoursed last time which enhances the boats tactical options and reduces the need for a lot of the spinnaker packing/ tidying up around the boat.

It is really refreshing as part of an afterguard to have a crew that can respond quickly to a simple call from the back when approaching the mark. If they can respond to a change of mind at the last minute it is even better. Regular enthusiastic crew and practise is needed to reach this level.

So let’s have a look at a few more variations

The Kiwi Drop

Mostly used on asymmetric spinnaker boats. Called a Mexican drop in the northern hemisphere, it is a procedure where the spinnaker is dropped as the boat is gybed. Regarded as being difficult, I actually find it one of the safest drops when done properly. It is totally dependent on the helmsman doing a textbook gybe whilst monitoring the spinnaker drop. No standing hands on hips bawling the crew out. The steerer is an integral part of all drops and none more so than the Kiwi.

As the boat is turned into the gybe rather than the trimmer easing the sheet they should sheet on and over trim the spinnaker to keep it on the new windward side. We do not want the spinnaker to change sides. The spinnaker will be grabbed by the bowman along the foot or at the clew. Once the boat has turned past dead downwind the pit person can release the halyard, in most cases the halyard can be smoked as the beauty of the Kiwi drop is the sail will blow into the jib and mast and fall down on the windward side.  The sheet can also be fired once the gybe is completed to enable the sail to be hauled down the relevant hatch or into its bag. The spinnaker will be gathered rather than dragged in from the leeward side which makes life a lot easier. As the bulk of the spinnaker is retrieved the bowman can call for the release of the tackline. Tacticians, keep in the back of your mind if a gybe drop from starboard to port can be implemented, the spinnaker will be ready to go on the next port rounding bear away hoist.

The use of the jib to give the dropping spinnaker a configuration to fall down against is very important. It should be attended to during the gybe and slightly over trimmed to assist the drop. The idea is to have the spinnaker fall to the deck. An un-sheeted or even worse un-hoisted jib will prevent this as the sail will blow through between the forestay mast gaps and require a lot of recovering!

The crucial part of the Kiwi is the gybing of the boat. The turn needs to be controlled and monitored and appropriate for the drop timing.

The Envelope Drop

This is a drop for heavy weather, the concept is to keep the spinnaker under control during the drop and minimise the risk factor. When things are getting out of control and we want the kite down ASAP. The beauty of the envelope drop is we don’t need to have the jib up as the idea is to blanket the spinnaker with the mainsail. It is not dissimilar to a leeward drop and needs to have a boat setup with independent sheets and braces to work suitably.

The call for a heavy weather drop is invariably too late as the wind increases suddenly and things are on the point of being out of control. It is very important to get everyone ready and in position first, so despite the frantic need for haste make sure all are in position and settled.

The bow person will grab the lazy brace on the leeward side, run it aft and lead it over the boom and under the mainsail and down the companionway and to the sewer-man downstairs. You will need a loose footed mainsail (as most are these days). If you don’t have one lead the brace under the boom and down to the sewer-man. The halyard should be flaked ready to run as always. If it is looking likely to become messy, throw the halyard over board and let it run out. That will ensure it does not twist or tangle up on the drop.

On the call to drop it is important to follow the sequence. Ease the pole to the forestay  and release the windward brace as the bulk of the crew haul on the lazy brace and pull the spinnaker down through the slot between the mainsail foot and boom (hence the envelope drop).  Get as much of the spinnaker down as quickly as possible. The helm will need to keep steering as straight downwind as he can. We do not want any wind across the boat loading up the sail as it is retrieved.

Another major point is for the halyard man to blow at least one third of the halyard on the initial call to drop. We need to collapse the spinnaker completely to necessitate the recovery. Do not tentatively ease it out and make it hard for the team hauling it in (have I mentioned my pet hates). The skipper needs to have that spinnaker down now and it is no time for faint hearts.  My advice always for the halyard on spinnaker drops is blow the first third, monitor the mid third and let the last bit go.

Once the sail is down, clean up the foredeck, run a jib up and get sailing again.

Samurai douse

As the name applies is a fairly brutal sharp edged approach to dropping a spinnaker. Once again a heavy weather procedure, simply put it involves cutting the halyard when your boat and crew are in imminent danger. It involves doing some damage to the boats line and in all possibility the sail so it is obviously only to be employed in dire circumstances. The presence of a lee shore or a broken item like a shroud or rudder that requires the boat to be immediately stopped or the load shed off the rig. In these cases the damages caused by the Samurai drop would be far the lesser of two evils. A sharp knife should always be handy and once the halyard is cut. The spinnaker is then hauled back on-board; note it is important to stop the boat dead in the water to retrieve the spinnaker, even the smallest amount of way can make it difficult to haul in. Make sure all your lines are removed from the water before the engine is engaged (remember that lee shore).

It would be quite silly and expensive to practise Samurai drops, but it is worth talking it through in the hopefully unlikely event it is needed. My favourite Samurai drop anecdote is about a 50’ boat that was in all sorts of drama and the skipper made a “cut the halyard” call. The relatively inexperienced pitman under verbal harassment grabbed a knife, shrugged his shoulders and sawed through all the halyards an inch or two on the aft side of the jammers. I still get chuckle thinking about the face of the skipper when confronted with that one. The crew must have an idea of what to expect and how to approach it. I think the biggest issue in these extreme circumstances is the noise putting people on edge. The wind and yelling can be quite disconcerting, you need to make an effort to distance yourself from that aspect and remove the anxiety.