Gybing with the gennaker is fairly straightforward. Like the jib, it should be pulled across at
the same time as the mainsail
singlehanded, the mainsheet tiller extension, and
the helm should hold the gennaker sheet at all times.
To drop the gennaker, reverse the procedure used to hoist. The boat should be sailing on a
broad reach, and the slack in the gennaker downhaul is pulled in from the left hand halyard
block.
As the gennaker downhaul goes tight, the gennaker halyard should be popped out of the
cleat. Then, pull the remainder of the gennaker downhaul through until the gennaker is
pulled sharply into the chute. Dropping the gennaker on tighter reaches is harder, and
gennaker downhaul. If possible, this should be avoided when
sailing singlehanded.
HINT
The gennaker can “bunch up” when entering the chute. This can be minimised by
keeping some tension on the gennaker sheet, preventing the clew from being sucked
into the chute with the main body of the gennaker.
When the gennaker is fully lowered, tidy the sheets and the halyard to keep the cockpit area
clear.
4.6 - Using the Gennaker
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