In addition to the trawling and the coconut tree Another recurring problem with the spinnaker is that it has a strong propensity to wrap itself around the forestay.
Generally, this will happen when you're on the false breakdown (full tail wind) or when you're on a very big surf and the boat suddenly accelerates. In any case, the spinnaker is subjected to the mainsail deviation.
The spinnaker cloth, which has become soft, is caught by the air swirling behind the mainsail. Caught in the eddy, the sail can at any time inflate against the forestay and furl in the direction of the eddy.
What precautions to take to avoid wrapping the spinnaker around étai??
A small inattention of the helmsman, an oscillation of the wind, a gybe that goes on forever, a wave that destabilizes, and hop, we find ourselves on the false failure and the spinnaker wraps around the forestay. The sail seems to have literally collapsed on the forestay and suddenly started to turn.
The consequences can be serious, so we have to act while there's still time. If possible, you should leave the fake breakdown by luffing. The spinnaker will pick up a laminar wind and the acceleration of the apparent wind may prevent the spinnaker from continuing to furl.
The coconut tree around the forestay also often occurs during a gybe . Typically, one stays a little too long on the false failure and during the manoeuvre, the spinnaker is totally shocked, but on the other side, the sheet is not eased in time. The spinnaker is absolutely free to move. This is the ideal situation to give the spinnaker time to wrap properly around the forestay.
The best parry is to maneuver or even sail with the solent in place. There is also the Belgian genoa, a genoa-shaped net that sticks to the forestay to avoid coconut trees.
Solutions for removing the spinnaker towers around the forestay
Once the spinnaker is wrapped around the forestay, the mainsail can be overhauled, depending on the size of the boat. The aim is to put the mainsail in the axis to let the wind pass to the other side. If you can be fast, the spinnaker will be well exposed to the wind and will be able to re-inflate itself by undoing its turns.
If several turns are already twisted around the forestay, the solution, often the most effective, is to gybe the mainsail. We'll use the reverse of the mainsail eddy to undo the spinnaker towers. This method is really effective and as long as it is done before the turns are too tight, it will get rid of most of the spinnakers wrapped around the forestay. You also need to have some water to run.
If the spinnaker is definitely twisted around the forestay and the battle seems lost, you will try to lower the sail onto the deck. Unfortunately, this is not always feasible. Sometimes the towers are so tight that the fasey sail seems doomed to hang from the forestay. To return to a port, albeit a pitiful one, you will still have the option of tying the spinnaker around the forestay with the available halyards.
There is still one last solution, which is to go forward armed with determination and strong arms to remove the turns at wrist strength. This method is only likely to succeed if the wind is not strong and there is a lot of water to run in front of the bow. You're going to untie the sheets and take over the canvas. By pulling the fabric firmly from below, if you can eliminate enough turns, you will be able to lower the sail onto the deck.
The ultimate solution is to climb the mast when the wind and the sea are calm
Tips
- Hoisting the solent, at least at shipping and landing, is a wise precaution. And why not keep a solent during the long stages, it's the insurance to avoid wrapping the spinnaker around the étai??
- Moor a knife in the cockpit. He will be able to overcome an inextricable situation. We recommend a ceramic knife, it doesn't rust and it's quite economical.
- Keep a repair kit up to date. Although the spis are fragile, they are also easy to repair.
- Provide a very long replacement spinnaker tip. If we have to cut, it's less guilt trip.
