Gybing: I like the go fast through the gybe method that Jake mentioned. When you make a great gybe in big winds it is magic! Example: It is blowing big, more than 20, crew out on the wire. Sorry not singlehanding. I say that we are gybing in 20 seconds. She is now prepared for it, aka not going to be surprised. I say ready to gybe? I wait for her response. She is coming in off the wire, keeping the spin flying nicely. As she comes in we are still flying the hull while I am ready to turn down. As she gets the lazy sheet in her other hand and "feels" ready for the gybe will say "Ready!" I turn down. I let the traveller down during the gybe to allow the main to start working immediately on the opposite side. She sneeks the spinnaker around the front, the main pops (rather softly) on the new gybe. As I am re-centering the main traveller the hull comes out of the water while she (crew) is all of the sudden behind me and out on the wire. I seems that the boat was ever flat. As if we went from flying one hull to flying the other hull without hitting the water. How does that happen? The whole thing takes about 5 to 7 seconds. Oh what a feeling!

Angles in different winds: In moderate winds (10-15) you will likely be sailing 90 degree angles downwind. In 5 to about 7 you will be sailing higher to get the hull out and apparent wind working. In less than 5, go in to the beach or sail really deep, as you will not be able to generate much apparent. In big winds the angles get bigger (further forward). We start calling the leeward mark about 10 or 15 degrees further forward of 90. If we overstand we are in big trouble and we do not mind an extra couple of gybes if we are too short.

We use an endpole system so no tack line to consider.

We do use knots in the line as spacers for the pulldown. Think about it, the less material that goes into the snuffer at once the easier to douse and better wear on the chute. Saves money.

Later,
Dan