Spinnaker runs
November 14th 2006 18:57
A quiet spinnaker run
A day out sailing usualy means setting either the least amount of sail to get the boat going and then sitting back and realxing as the wind blows you with a degree of comfort to your detination. Alternateivly there is the spinnaker set. Many skipper swill call for this and often it is in the middle of the champagne and chicken leg of the sail. (When the boat is sailing it's flattest with the wind abaft the beam. He is going to show off. The crew, or those that know what is about to happen groan and put away their drinks and food and rustle out the dusty old spinnaker sheets. Then they put up with being fussily ordered about by the skipper who is the authority on which block each sheet and kicker goes through.
Next it is a matter of attaching the spinnaker bag to the the pullpit. It has to be done exactly right even though the ties are over a hundred years old and have been promised to be replaced before the next time it is used. Now attach the sheets. Now attach the halyard and topping lift to the spinnaker pole that is swinging wildly around the boat threateneing to spear one crew and knock another oveboard. Everything is now ready for the hoist and the crew in the cockpit have been thoroughly abused by the foredeckies for being slow in knowing how much kicker to ease and not having a clew what a pole topper was! Every one is sort of anxious by now as the stress level creaps upward.
The skipper takes one more look around the water to make sure everyone is watching. "Hoist" he hollers. The mastie gallanlty starts to hoist the kite hand over hand as the poor wench in the cockpit tries to keep up with the tailing on the winch. The kite is up and of course it has not been packed properly and has wineglassed. It is twisted in the middle like a big brandy balloon. "It'll come out" screams the skipper, who is not watching behind as a westerly bullet come roaring across the water. It slams into the boat and playfully captures the spinnaker and starts to haul the boat bodily through the water.
"Let the pole go forward" is the next command and the cockpit crew who have fallen over as the boat was slammed and heeled to an impossible angle, haul themselves out of the debris of chicken wings and spilled plastic wine glasses. The pole goes forward and the kicker is adjusted at the same time but of course it is the wrong one and the pole immediately shoots up and is pointing heavenward as again the gust starts to lift the boat back to an even keel and shoot her toward some bugeyed kids out minding their own business in a little Sabot.
There is only one thing left for the skipper to do. He yells
hiiiiiiit" Steering the boat up into the wind to avoid damaging his precious hull on the Sabot, the boat again heels suddenly over and reaches speeds of an express train as the westerly gust persists in being playfull.Again the crew are spreadeagled throughout the cockpit with the wife jammed under the cockpit table that was thoughtfully left up to have somewhere to store the glasses (thankfully plastic), wine bottle and chicken. "Oh shit, shit, shit" cries the skipper as the power between the sail and the keel tries to wrench the wheel out of his hands. The helm is hard over and ever so slowly the boat starts to come to windward and bit by bit she starts to right herself. The mastie has been hanging on to the mast with both arms wrapped around as his legs dangled in the water. He stands up, helps one of the foredeckies to his feet and looks up at the offending piece of coloured rag."It'll have to come down" He says laconicly to the skipper. "Torn from arsehole to breakfast" The skipper, trying hard to avoid noticing the myriad of power boats that have arrived on the scene with videos and digital cameras and mobile phone snapping up images of his disgrace, just nods.
With little fuss the mastie directs the drop. One more embarassment as the sail is gathered in too slowly and drags through the water like a prawn trawling net. It is bundled below and shoved haphazardly into it's bag, ready for the sail maker. The sheets are wound in and stowed in the locker, the headsail goes up, beers are cracked and all is well with the world again!
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Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
Love to see those spinnakers, I've lost track of the number I photographed. It's hard work doing that too, but not such hard work as you describe here.
katyzzz
Comment by TomN
Boat Heaven
Have a great day
Tom