The jib on a fireball is very tall and narrow. This means that easing the jib sheet a fraction, has a large effect on the twist of the head of the sail. Therefore on the beat jib sheet position to the nearest millimetre is critical to good performance. To ensure that the position of the jib sheet can be accurately gauged, mark the sheet with indelible marker or whipping twine, so that when the sheet is in its close-hauled position, the mark is either next to the barber hauler block or the cleat depending on personal preference When you think you have found a fast setting, remember the position of the mark relative to the block/cleat and when you tack or are out in similar conditions you can repeat the settings.
When sailing upwind in windy conditions ease the jib slightly as gusts hit you. This opens up the slot and allows you to accelerate with the gust. Failure to do this will push the bow in, and cause you to stall or even capsize. In particularly windv weather look for gusts approaching on the water (darker patches), and have the sheet uncleated in preparation for when the gust hits. Once a gust has passed, pull the jib back onto its normal position (as indicated by your marker)
Never assume that your helm has seen something especially other boats. He will be trying to make the boat go fast(you hope) and therefore he will not have much time for looking around.
Plan ahead at the start of a race. Decide which will be the first kitable leg of the race, and then make sure that the spinnaker is packed so that for the first hoist it will be hoisted from the bag on the leeward side and that the pole will be on the windward side of the boom. For a normal Olympic course leaving marks to port, the kite will be in the port bag and the pole on the starboard side of the boom. By forward planning you will ensure a good hoist.
Coming into the windward mark, the helm should pull the twinning line on a few boat lengths from the mark. To do this he should reach forward take a turn of the sheet around his hand and pull the spinnaker along the foredeck 6 inches. This will enable him to pull the twinning line fully or cleat it and leave one less thing for the crew to do during the hoist- There are nearly always places to make at the windward mark if you can outhoist some one
When doing a chuck hoist because the kite sin the windward bag, make sure the windward twinning line is on and the windward sheet uncleated Pull the sheet all the way through until the stopper knot is against the twinning line block. this will ensure that the running if the sheet through blocks will not impede your throw around the forestay There is no surer way to get some verbal from your helm because the spinnaker blows between the mast and the jib because you were standing on the sheet. If you do happen to achieve this, quickly fix the pole on the mast. This will project part of the spinnaker forward of the forestay; and the combination of this and you pulling on the leeward sheet should got the sail round.
Ever pushed the pole out, clipped it on the mast only to find the sheet has fallen out the end? By replacing the centre 6 inches of the line joining the triggers at each end of the pole with thin shock chord there is less likelihood of catching the line and opening the triggers accidentally.
If when dropping the spinnaker the sheet flicks over the end of the boom, this a sign that the twinning lines are too long. The twinning line should be long enough so that it does not pull the sheet down on a broad reach and no longer. In addition, as the crew goes forward to drop the kite he should give the sheet to his helmsman so that a little tension is kept on it.
If the crew has problems staying on the side of the boat in windy and wavy weather, especially downwind, a good application of surfers wax on the side decks increases the grip. Wax on the side of the centreboard case top also aids your grip when pushing out. Strawberry flavoured wax is especially recommended.
Style should never come before function It’s no good trapezing with both feet together. and hands behind your head if you happen to be flying around the forestay at the time. If you feel a bit unsteady, move your feet apart and trapeze slightly higher. If you feel yourself moving, the neck of your helms lifejacket makes a convenient steadying handle.
All crews acknowledge that it is not good preparation to have 20 pints of lager and a chicken madras the night before an important race, which is why they all have 25 pints of lager and a chicken vindaloo.
The ultimate rule of crewing is that in the heat of the moment when things aren't quite going to plan - the helmsman is always right. Although it is generally acknowledged that they are always wrong. When voices are raised nothing is gained by answering back. Those who sail with their spouse should aseptically heed this advice since ignoring this rule could end in divorce.
