North American Yachts Yacht Owner's Manual - page 16
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In heavy following seas it may be impossible to eliminate oscillation, but the
above procedure will help keep it under control.
Heavy Air Reaching
The secret to a power reach is to keep your boat on her feet. Keep the heeling
angle at a minimum. Keep the crew weight aft for maximum rudder control and,
above art, anticipate the puffs before they are on you. Concentrate on the wind
10 boat lengths abeam and astern of you. When you see a blast of wind off your
stern quarter, do not wait until it hits you, causing you to heel, round up and
lose control. Bear off before it reaches you. If it looks as though it may last
more than a minute, guy the pole aft and ride it downwind. Keep your boat
moving, maintain control and as the blast eases, let the pole forward and bring
your boat back to its original heading. Remember, "Anticipate the puff before
it reaches you."
Spinnaker work requires practice and the coordination of the helmsman and crew.
It also provides some of sailing's most thrilling moments.
General Spinnaker Trimming
Almost constant attention is required if maximum efficiency is to be realized
from your spinnaker. The luff must be under constant scrutiny and the sail
trimmed on the verge of a break or curl.
Remember, whenever raising or lowering the spinnaker pole to adjust for varying
wind conditions, as described above, the pole must be perpendicular (90 degrees
horizontally to the mast.) Do not allow the pole to hike up or sag down.
In order to accomplish this, the pole lift and inboard spinnaker pole track
setting must be raised and lowered simultaneously.
It is also of paramount importance to keep the clew and tack of the spinnaker
flying at equal heights. This assures that your spinnaker is not being
distorted and that the designed shape is being maintained.
I. REEFING THE GENOA
Many people confuse roller furling as a means of reefing True, some reduction
in sail area may be effected through the use of roller furling gear but
generally a Genoa will not trim properly when a substantial amount of sail is
furled.
Genoa reefing is a means of reducing sail area and at the same time providing
proper sheeting angle for an efficient sail shape. Basically the principle for
Genoa reefing is the same as Jiffy Reefing on the mainsail. A set of reef
points including a secondary tack and clew cringle is installed in the Genoa.
As the wind 'increases the halyard is eased and the reef tack is lowered to the
reef position. The sheet is then attached to the reef clew fitting. The excess
sail area at the foot is then furled and tied.
Two important consideration on the furling Genoa are: one, the Genoa must be
somewhat heavier, (one ounce) than the standard Genoa, because it will be used
in heavier wind ranges when reefed; two, a reefing Genoa will reduce your
headsail area by a ,maximum of 20%, i.e., 150% Genoa reduces to 130%. So, when
you plan to install reefing in your Genoa keep in mind you will need heavier
sail cloth and that the maximum reduction of area will be 20%.