Mullingar Sailing Club

index

1.2    Boat Preparation :

Crewing in a GP14 can at times be a difficult job at times, a crew is not just there for ballast and to pull the jib in and out. Sailing is a team effort and Communication & Coordination between the Crew and the Helm can dramatically enhance a boats performance.

Your job as a crew can be made a lot easier by having all your control lines working properly. Not only will it make the boat easier to set up the knock on effect is it will make the boat easier to sail and ultimately result in better boat speed.

It is your responsibility to make sure everything is working properly.
Are all your control lines working ?

1.    Kicking Strap
2.    Downhaul (Cunningham)
3.    Outhaul
4.    Spinnaker Pole Uphaul
5.    Spinnaker Pole Downhaul
6.    Twining lines (working and set correctly)
7.    Jib tension

Mast set up :
Mast rake is measured from the top of the mast to the top of the transom. It will vary between boats but should be in the range 21’9” – 21’11’.
To do this, hoist the jib with 400lbs tension and measure 18’ to the top of the black bank at the gooseneck. Cleat the main halyard in this position and then measure the distance to the top of the transom.

Rig tension :
Increasing the rig tension reduces jib luff sag and straightens out the entry to the jib. This makes the jib point higher. The rig tension can be measured on one of the shrouds using a tension gauge.


The "Pro" version is a better gauge, it can be left on the shroud as you tension the rig. A "Club" gauge is available for loan.	The "Standard" gauge will not produce repeatable tension readings.

Check Toe Straps are they set correctly:
(falling out of a boat can be quite slow and embarrassing especially if it is caught on video !!!!!)

Bailers and Bungs:
Close the bailers and check the bungs.

Jib Fairlead:
These should be set so that if you follow the angle of the genoa sheet through the clew, it almost bisects the angle formed by the clew and foot
In winds above 15 knots the fairlead can be moved back one hole on the track.
In very windy conditions (20+ knots) the fairleads can be moved back 2 holes.
If you have thrugh deck fairleads, check that the fairlead position control line is not fouling the Jib sheet, it could saw through the Jib sheet.

This is just a starting point, tuning guides are available from sail makers on their web sites. Speed Sails Tuning Guide

Spinnaker:
Hoist the Spinnaker, check that the halyard is not twisted around the Jib halyard and that all sheets are outside the Jib sheets / mast stays.
Replace the Spinnaker on the correct side (Port course, port side spinnaker), with the pole on the opposite side. (Port course Starboard side pole).

Boat launh:
Prepare a launching plan, identify the hazards and determine the favoured tack off the slip. Pre set the Jib halyard, so that the boat will start sailing once it is pushed away from the wind. Immediately after the Crew launches the boat the centreboard must be lowered to control drift and the Crew should use the Jib + Mainsail to steer the boat untl the Helm locks down the rudder.