How to Take Down a Spinnaker Quickly in Sailboat Racing

Ever tried to sail upwind with a spinnaker? A quick, properly executed takedown will help you round the leeward mark at full speed.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sailing Gloves
• Deck Shoes
• Foul Weather Gear
• Seaman's Knives

1. Run your halyards, sheets and guys through your hands and flake them out so they run clean.

2. Hoist your jib to take wind out of your spinnaker.

3. Head down and ease the main to blanket the spinnaker to reduce additional load.

4. Drop the pole to the deck.

5. Have your bowman grab the lazy sheet (or lazy guy as the case may be) and pull in the foot as you blow the sheet.

6. Ease the halyard quickly, but do not get ahead of the foredeck crew.

7. Have the foredeck crew swim the spinnaker in with large hand-over-hand pulls.

8. Blow the guy last and collect the remainder of the spinnaker until it is stowed down below.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice takedowns when you are under no time constraints and talk about everyone's roles until the entire crew is comfortable. Slowly increase the speed and intensity in practice, then implement what you've learned on the racecourse.
• Instruct your crew on where to look first if something is hung up and not coming down cleanly.

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