Lets go fly a Kite!

Of the many sails we have for Nymeria, one is a spinnaker. Its a very pretty, usually brightly colored giant downwind sail. We have never flown it. Honestly we are probably just scared, but also we have no experience with it. Its not a simple sail to fly like many of the other sails we have.

This last weekend we finally had the opportunity to try one. Our friend Tim, who we regularly race with, is trying to get a crew together that has some experience with spinnaker so he can start racing in the spinnaker class. We regularly finish at the top of the non-spin class, but it is quite a sad sight (though quite pretty) to get passed by 10-15 boats with spinnakers on the downwind leg after making huge upwind gains.

We set out Saturday morning on board Nemesis to learn. Nemesis is a pure race boat, stripped of most comforts, and fast and twitchy to control. Flying a spinnaker is a task that requires several crew that all know what they are doing. There are multiple control lines and the sail is literally “flown” like a kite.

Setting the spin is a process in itself. First we need to get the guyline, sheet, and halyard set with the sail still on the deck. Once the lines are attached, we hoist the spinnaker pole and attach it to the guyline. All at once we start the hoist as fast as we can, becasue as soon as that thing catches the wind, were going and were going FAST. Almost as soon as I get it hoisted, it catches. Within seconds we’ve gone from 4kts to 7kts.

Were flying! There are constant adjustments to keep it full. Joe is trimming and explaining his adjustments as he goes. Tim, at the helm, is working hard to keep the boat on a steady course, right on the edge. One false step and either we crash jibe, broach the boat, or both. I’m absorbing as much info as I can.

In just a few minutes of this we are now on the other side of the bay, and its time to take it down. This is another process of coordination. I’m sent up to the bow to release the pole as soon as it is within reach, then Shannon has to lower the halyard, and Joe has to pull as hard as he can to get the sail back on the deck before it falls in the water. All while time is maintaining control of the boat with massively changing pressures as the sail comes down.

Once that is done, we can now open a beer and relax for the way back in. I learned a lot in that quick session. One thing I learned is it will be awhile before I volunteer to fly ours on Nymeria. I need to do that several more times before I’m comfortable with all the ins and outs.