The Gennaker is a large sail , it is not always easy to manage with a small crew. This is why, to facilitate the hoist , the lowered and the change of the walls (which must be done compulsorily gybing), one has to invent the so-called stocking with dedicated winders , and care, skill and great organization every step and maneuver . Here it is therefore necessary to make a choice . However, if your dream for next summer is to sail the Italian seas with a boat that is easy to drive and fully enjoy the relaxation and fun that this type of holiday offers, Spartivento Charter has a varied and large fleet of boats: here you will surely find the a sailing boat or catamaran perfectly tailored to your specifications and. S and your dream , however, is to dedicate yourself to navigation and commitment that a large sail like the gennaker requires, the following article will show you how to hoisting , lowering and maneuvering the gennaker.
How to maneuver the Gennaker
You begin to clarify the sheet point, the tack point and the quill by making them come out of the bag , after you have run all the edges with your hands to avoid any tangles.
Subsequently, the bag is brought to the bow and secured to the pulpit or to the gunwale.
Once this step is completed, a block is placed on the roller through which to pass a line with a diameter of 8-10 cm and a length equal to one and a half times the length of the boat.
This is fixed with a carabiner (with quick release) at the tack point, passing through the block that was fixed to the roller and, using an organizer, in the cockpit to the stoppers and then to a winch.
The top in question, which in English is called tack , is used to adjust the height that the tack point will have.
How to lower the sail in strong winds
It is possible to lower the gennaker sail between the mainsail and the boom in this way. Let’s see in detail the maneuver to be performed with the gennaker .
When you are at full reach, you pass the sheet between the boom and the base of the mainsail. The tack is fired and the sail is lowered, recovering it by means of the sheet in the cockpit. The sail will now flag over the water and the crew will be safely in the cockpit.
How sheets are rigged
In order to understand the maneuver of the gennaker, before hoisting the gennaker , let’s see how the sheet circuit is rigged.
First, you choose the leeward one : the other can also be mounted later with the gennaker sail hoisted.
The sheet passes through a block fixed to the stern and will be returned to the winch where the genoa sheets pass .
How to hoist the gennaker
Let’s move on to the maneuvers to bring up the gennaker.
Once both the bag and the leeward sheet have been set up , both the tack point and the halyard of the spinnaker that is at the masthead can be hooked up .
At this point the crew will have :
- a first person at the mast foot who will hoist the halyard
- one in the second person who will retrieve the cockpit
- u na third person , to winch the sheet , adjust if necessary the tack point in gait function
- a fourth person will be at the helm and will keep a course bearing 130 ° to the true wind
It is necessary, while hoisting the gennaker , to keep the jib ashore , which will act as a cover for the gennaker and make it easier to hoist.
Finally, it is necessary to adjust the mainsail which, being in reach, must be suitably opened .
Once you hoist the sail, the person assigned to retrieve the halyard releases a winch and provides gradual all’ammainato flake that inboard recover from the person who , previously , he hoisted the sail .
