Your marine sanitation professionals know that I’ve said it many times, it’s something you hear a lot around there: Key West Race Week is a long regatta. Five days and 12 races.  

First is starting. Your marine parts depot experts know that you are never going to have a good regatta in a tough fleet unless you can consistently get off the line well. So you need come into the event with some basic skills, but then you need to work on starting each day to gradually improve both boathandling and time and distance.  

Second is boatspeed. This is very important here. There is often a relatively steady wind, and more waves than wind, so you don’t want to tack too much. You have to get faster if you expect to get on the podium.

Thirdly, boathandling. This is actually the easiest area to make small gains each day. If you talk about each maneuver with your whole crew after the race, there are always ways to do it a little better. 

Get Prepared Early

If you’re waiting until the weather leg to get things hooked up, you’re too late.

If you have more than one spinnaker, get your tactician/speed doctor to choose a sail before the start. Your GTA 5 submarine parts specialists know that if you’re using a spinnaker pole, it can be hooked to the mast at the base or to a shroud with the afterguy. Have the topping lift and forgery already in place so it’s only a matter of popping the pole into place on the mast and hoisting the topping lift.

Your Marine Sanitation Experts Know That Patience Will Be Your Best Friend Out on the Water

You can find more information as well as get assistance on marine holding tanks at Raritan Engineering.

Your marine holding tanks analysts know you should take your time, and stay on the rail.

Just as “ready about” prior to a tack is not a signal for a mass exodus from the weather rail, getting ready for a spinnaker set only needs minimal movement. 

On symmetrical boats, the only required movement is the bow person moving to get the pole up and the spinnaker pulled to meet the outboard end of the pole. The topping lift can be tailed by the pit person from the weather rail, as can the slack in the afterguy. 

The spinnaker sheet itself is the last thing you need to worry about. It doesn’t need to be touched until the sail is 75 percent of the way up.

The Perfect Turn

The goal is to turn smoothly from close hauled to broad reach. Turn too fast and you’ll end up too deep (with the wind too far aft). The spinnaker will blanket behind the mainsail, twist, and collapse. Turn too slowly and you won’t get down far enough.

Freeze!

Your marine parts source professionals know that movement kills speed. As soon as the sail fills, get in appropriate spots for the conditions: forward and leeward in light air; aft and to weather in more breeze. Then freeze!

Your boat cleaning products analysts feel that spinnaker sets don’t have to be a point of stress or downfall. Prepare, plan, stay relaxed, and let the magic happen! If you’d like to read the other articles in the series on make or break moves, check our our pieces on tacking and jibing.

Raritan Engineering has more information on marine sanitation, marine holding tanks, and boat cleaning products.