Hoisting the Gennaker
To hoist the gennaker, bear off onto a broad reach and ensure that there is plenty of
room to leeward. Ease the mainsheet right out and cleat it, so that the boom is nearly
touching the shroud, and ensure that the kicker is eased as usual for downwind
sailing.
Pull on the gennaker halyard to hoist the gennaker as quickly as possible. This can
be done from sitting on the inner edge of the side deck, and keeping hold of the tiller
extension. There are 2 distinct techniques to do this – either simply by using
your forward free hand – or by using a “hand over hand” technique, whilst still
keeping hold of the tiller – see photo for an idea.
Now pick up the gennaker sheet and pull tension on so that the wind fills the
gennaker. Head up slightly to gain speed. You will probably need to grip the
gennaker sheet in your tiller hand while you pull the mainsheet back in to the new
point of sailing. For those of you familiar with asymmetric sailing, you will remember
how important it is to ease the kite as far as possible, so that the luff is constantly on
the verge of curling. An over-sheeted kite is such a killer to speed. Conversely,
nothing will drop you in the drink faster than a collapsing kite – so forget the mainsail
and stay sharply focused on the luff of the kite! It is helpful to make sure the
mainsheet is resting next to you on the side deck, so it is to hand when you
need to adjust.
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