1. Helm
• Look around to know where mark is and which
boats will have rights or give room.
• Bring bow down the required amount for the
conditions.
• Look for the mark again and work out which boats
to steer around.
• Execute a nice wide-and-tight turn, trying not to
park the boat up but let it accelerate into and out
of the turn.
2. Tactician
• Communicate type of drop exit and the plan out of
the mark.
• Count down the drop and then the turn for the jibe.
• Ease runner o or bring on new runner. In light air,
do both runners.
• Bring runner up to tension.
3. Main
• Sets up main for the beat
• Jibe the main.
• Have both mainsheet winches ready to be ground in.
4. Trimmer
• Ease spinnaker sheet at the count of 2, then stand
by to overhaul sheets out of the water.
• Load jib onto winch and prepare to jibe the jib and
trim on around the mark.
• Move up to windward side and load new sheet.
• Start talking with helm about feel and speed/
angles to sail.
5. Trim #2
• Pull pole in on Bow’s call.
• Get tail of jib sheet to tail in for Trimmer while
hitting the rail.
6. Pit
• Set up outhaul and cunningham.
• Make sure jib halyard is at its mark for the beat.
• Blows the halyard (first) and tack (second) jammer
on the drop call.
• Follow the drop and be ready to check the halyard
on the way down.
• If needed, go forward and lift clew over the life
lines and around the shrouds.
• Once clean and clear, hit the rail with vang in hand.
7. Mast
• Stand in cockpit, with feet on back of
companionway, ready to pull chute down with
string line. Pull out all slack during countdown.
Once chute is all the way in, throw string line
forward to front of cockpit and hits the rail.
8. Bow
• Be on your feet and able to move around the
hatch.
• Make sure string line is ready to go.
• Open hatch and make sure lazy sheet is over hatch
and set up for the drop.
• Be ready to start pulling on string line until cloth of
sail is reached, then work tack inside and under the
jib, then work the clew and head while going up
the sail stung all parts down as it’s pulled in.
• Clean up and close hatch; check to see if jib needs
skirting.
• Hits the rail and starts hiking. With leeward drop
and this one you need to wait until first tack to
clear halyard and move it to the clip.
9. Floater
• When windy, stay back and help set up the
runners.
• Release old runner or bring on new runner.
• Hit the rail and start hiking.
Cameron Appleton, North Sails
Consultant and former America’s Cup
sailor, has in recent years won the Melges
32 Worlds (2 times), Farr 40 Worlds
(3 times), and RC44 Tour champion (5
times). He races with success on all sizes
of boats, from J/70s to superyachts.
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