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A common thing that is missed on many production boats is spinnaker sheet deflector blocks. These deflect the spinnaker sheet as it leads from the sheet block at the back of the boat, around the outside of the cockpit and leads neatly to the coach roof winches. This stops the sheet cutting across the cockpit and getting in the way of the helmsman and trimmers. This is often fitted to a padeye near the first stanchion forward from the back of the boat, and will give a neat lead up to the halyard winch. On smaller boats, up to 35-footers, this block is ideal as a ratchet block. This gives good grip and control on the line and can free up a winch at the vital moment coming out of a hoist or going into a drop.
Spinnaker sheet tweekers are also often overlooked. Having a tweeker that is easily-to-hand with sufficient purchase to allow the sheet to the pulled down, even in heavy air, is very important. It also helps to have the line easily accessed when you go for the hoist and the leeward tweeker is still on! In this shot, you can see the 2:1 tweeker, the red line with a HAR2649 40/29C Traveller block on the sheet and a HAR341 29C Single & Becket on the deck, leading aft through a HAR340 29C Single and then back to the HAR150 Cam-Matic® with HAR425 Flairlead on the coach roof. TRIMMERS AREA To make your trimmers job easier, you must think about what controls the trimmer must be able to adjust easily and ensure these are close to hand. In Photo C, you can see the controls laid out in an easy to use arrangement. From the left you have — headsail car puller (white), spinnaker sheet tweeker (red), pole downhaul (blue), jib inhaul (grey). This means the trimmer can change gears effectively without having to get others off the rail, therefore making the boat faster.
IN SUMMARY 1. Make sure all your controls are 'effective tuning tools'.
2. Think about what jobs are done and when in the various manoeuvres. This can help with the positioning of fittings to ensure that someone can use them at the right time.
3. Ensure that all your equipment is checked, maintained and serviced regularly to get the best out of it.
4. The 5 P's - Proper preparation prevents poor performance. |
