Tacking and Gybing

1. Tacking and Gybing Royal Yacht Club of Victoria David LeRoy David Ellis Tacking and Gybing

2. Introduction • This presentation will cover the manoeuvres of Tacking and Gybing • It will cover the techniques required and it will briefly discuss the tactical application of each. Tacking and Gybing

3. Agenda • Tacking • What is a tack ? • What skills are required to perform a good tack ? • How can we learn and improve those skills? • How can we apply the skills learned tactically? • What factors influence our decision making as to when to tack ? Tacking and Gybing

4. Gybing • What is a Gybe • What are the skills required to perform a good gybe ? • How can we learn and improve those skills? • How can we apply the skills learned tactically? • What factors influence our decision making as to when to tack ? Tacking and Gybing

5. Tacking • Tacking can be described in two distinct ways. The narrow rules interpretation, and the far wider practical view. • Rules RRS 13 “ After a boat passes head to wind, she shall keep clear of other boats until she is on a close hauled course. During that time rules 10, 11 and 12 do not apply. If two boats are subject to this rule at the same time, the one on the other’s port side or the one clear astern shall keep clear.” Tacking and Gybing

6. Tacking • From a practical perspective a tack commences at the time the manoeuvre is initiated by the helmsman and trimmers and completes when the boat is again on a tack and at full speed. • Clearly there is a significant difference in these two approaches. Tacking and Gybing

7. The importance of the Rules Perspective • Loss of Right of Way during manoeuvre. • Influences Tactical decisions, i.e. proximity of other boats can affect our decision to tack and the way in which we do it. • Can influence the time available to complete the manoeuvre “Crash Tacking” Tacking and Gybing

8. The practical perspective. • Need to avoid “Down Speed” manoeuvre. We want to get from one tack to the other with the least loss of speed and height. • We want to maintain or gain a tactical advantage. • Need to have a good understanding of the physical attributes of both our boat and our opposition. Tacking and Gybing

9. So what makes a good tack ? • Steering • The tack must be performed smoothly to avoid washing off speed. • The manoeuvre must be commenced with sufficient speed to complete it satisfactorily. • The new course must be satisfactory to allow the trimmers to build full speed in minimum time. Tacking and Gybing

10. So what makes a good tack ? • Trimming • The trimmers need to be co-coordinated to give the required speed going into the tack. • The headsail needs to be released at the appropriate time in the tack. • The Mainsail needs to be eased to allow re-trim as the boat accelerates. • The re-trimming of the sails needs to be achieved promptly to achieve full speed. Tacking and Gybing

11. So what makes a good tack ? • Crew work • The remaining crew have an important role. • They must be coordinated in moving around the boat. • The headsail may need to be skirted, ensure this occurs at the required time. • The crew should stay with allocated tasks. Tacking and Gybing

12. Gybing • Gybing can, like taking, be seen from both the practical and rules perspective. • Firstly the Rules perspective where gybing can be seen as more or less instant. i.e. the transition is as the boom crosses. Tacking and Gybing

13. Gybing, the Rules • A boat Gybes from the rules perspective when the Windward side moves from one side to the other. • The RRS definitions state “A boats leeward side is the side that is or when she is head to wind, was away from the wind. However, when sailing by the lee or directly downwind, her leeward side is the side on which her mainsail lies. The other side is her windward side. When two boats on the same tack overlap, the one on the leeward side of the other is the leeward boat. The other is the windward boat. ” Tacking and Gybing

14. The practical perspective • A Gybe with an Asymmetric Spinnaker or a Symmetric Spinnaker involves many of the same tasks as tacking. • Steering • The gybe should be performed smoothly so as not to wash off speed. • The boat should be steered to place it in the appropriate position relative to the Spinnaker Tacking and Gybing

15. The practical perspective • The Trimmers • The Sail needs to be maintained in the correct configuration throughout the gybe • There is a fundamental difference between a symmetric spinnaker gybe and an asymmetric. During the asymmetric gybe the sail must collapse. This transition must be performed smoothly to minimize the time the sail is not drawing. • During the symmetric gybe the direction of flow changes but the sail should not collapse. Tacking and Gybing

16. The practical perspective • Crew must be coordinated in their approach • Like tacking movements need to be purposeful and planned. • The mast man and the bowman need to work together with the trimmers to coordinate the transfer of the pole for a symmetric gybe. • Crew weight transfer is important Tacking and Gybing

17. Skills and Drills • Tacking • Acceleration The Trimmers, Crew and Helmsman need to practice accelerating the boat from a slowed speed to full speed. • Turning The Helmsman needs to practice achieving the appropriate rate of turn to make the tack occur with least loss of speed and height. Tacking and Gybing

18. Skills and Drills • Trimming The trimmers need to practice tailing the new headsail sheet in coordination with the grinders. The trimmer releasing the sheet needs to practice timing the release of the sheet to achieve the sail blowing through the foretriangle and the best rate of rotation of the boat. Tacking and Gybing

19. Skills and Drills • Gybing • The Helmsman should practice achieving the correct rate of turn to allow the the spinnaker to ‘float’ through the manoeuvre. • The trimmers need to maintain the trim of the symmetric spinnaker to keep it floating. This is achieved by trimming on brace and easing sheet. Tacking and Gybing

20. Skills and Drills • The Bowman, Mast man and trimmers need to practice the coordination of the release and transfer of the spinnaker pole for the Symmetric Spinnaker. • The trimmers need to practice releasing the asymmetric spinnaker sheet at the appropriate time and trimming on the new sheet. This need to be done in a manner to minimize the duration of collapse of the sail. Tacking and Gybing

21. On the Water • Slow and Accelerate • Tacking and Gybing around a Box • Tacking and Gybing Windward Leeward Tacking and Gybing

22. Where to Get More Information • ISAF website • Sailing Publications • www.northU.com • Coaching Staff Tacking and Gybing