Spinnaker dropping techniques: the best tips for “drops”

Dinghies like the 505 have used chutes to “drop” their spinnakers into the boat for decades. However, when talking specifically about the spinnaker drop of the big boats, the falling ropes were only seen in the last days of the Version 5 IACC yachts, which last competed in the America’s Cup at Valencia 2007.

Many of those same America’s Cup sailors and yachts have continued to develop rope-dropping techniques for grand prix racing classes like the TP52 and Maxi 72, and more and more we are seeing more boats. little ones adopt this technique.

Dave Swete estimates that he performs around 500 rope jumps a year and estimates that it’s worth a lot of time on the race track, saving up to 30 seconds per mark flare downwind. In light to medium airs, the best rope-dropping maneuvers don’t even begin until the boat is almost ready to head for the mark.

For port flares at higher marks, a general rule of thumb is that the waterline be on the port side of a gennaker for an “inside jibe” boat and on the starboard side of a gennaker for an “outside jibe” boat. The leech line should be directed to the port side with enough “tail” to allow jibing.

Choreography

To perform a good string drop, a lot of things need to happen quickly and in the right order.

At about a minute from the mark, the jib should rise and the crew should consider preparing the boat for upwind sailing. Someone who is not involved in the physical side of the maneuver should watch the mark and give a clear countdown so everyone knows when to perform their role.

It is essential that the coxswain level the boat and keep the mast straight throughout the release: this considerably reduces the risk of the sail getting caught in the water.

A clear and strong final call: “10 seconds later!” Is imperative, the sheets, halyards, tack lines all released in the correct order in the last two seconds.

Windfall

Provided the boat is level and the stages are done at the right time, this is a very safe maneuver.

Bear away until the boat is level (the jib starting to come upwind is a good indication that you are at the right angle for a release), release the sheet and the tack simultaneously while pulling on the drop line on the “two second” call and the kite will rise into the air, simply floating.

It is an eerie sight to watch the kite float above you, the true wind being balanced by the apparent wind on the deck, which means the sail is simply hanging there, ready to be sucked into the hatch. .

Wait for the dropline to begin to tighten, then release the halyard (normally at “zero seconds” call). There should be very little resistance to pull the kite away very quickly, and gravity will give you a hand.

Leeward fall

The timing is much more critical on the leeward fall as there is a greater chance that the kite will fall overboard downwind. This is why it is essential that the coxswain keep the boat upright and steer the boat downwind, again watch for when the jib starts to want to cross the boat as a good indication that you are deep enough.

It is also very important to release the strings in the correct order. As the adjuster releases the sheet, the pitman releases the halyard and the kite is pulled downwind by the dropline. The tack line should be released last and only after the majority of the sail is safely in the hatch, because if one of the sails falls into the water and you have released the sail line tack too early you will have to deal with a bottom trawl boat stop.

Maximum power

On boats up to about 40 feet long, you can put your biggest, strongest sailor on the fall line and they should be able to manually pull the rope line on their own. On boats 40ft and over you would usually have the drop line on a wheel connected by a pedestal and powerful grinders would get the sail under the bridges as soon as possible.

Boat transformation

Racing boats tend to prefer a single patch system attached to the center of the kite. But then the racing boats are stripped down with minimal interiors and furnishings, allowing full racing from the inside to bring the kite down below.

If you want to do rope drops on a less race oriented boat, but there is a bulkhead or something in your way, you may consider installing a two patch system on your kite, which will reduce the distance. that the sail must be pulled underneath, before it becomes “safe”.

Check that the sail will unwind smoothly and freely along the tailgate without the risk of catching on a sharp edge. The ideal setup is to have a rolling bar or smooth spoke at the aft end of the hatch so that the sail can roll. The smaller the boat and the lower the loads, the easier it should be to perform a rope release. The maneuver works well on all racing boats up to the Maxi 72 – beyond that size and loads become a limiting factor.

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