What Would You Do In A Spinnaker Situation?

Q Penny and a group of friends are racing her Sigma 33 in the Autumn Series. Penny and two of the crew are regulars along with two beginners who, while keen, are losing valuable seconds in the race by making up sheets the wrong way round the winches and other basic mistakes.

- James Stevens

Today there have only been a few mishaps in the 15–17 knot breeze and it’s looking promising with the spinnaker up on the downwind leg. The spinnaker is symmetric with lazy sheets and guys. Even the gybe goes well and Penny talks through the procedure for the drop and retrieve. Near the leeward mark she gives the command, ‘Let go’.