ETCHELLS CLASS
Lake Dillon, Colorado
Crew Assignments:
Written by Gregory Geiger, USA 989 & USA 11
Edited for Lake Dillon
Forward Crew: learns about boat set up for different conditions and sail trim for those conditions
1. Writes down the sailing course, wind readings and compass headings
2. Pre-race: tells Skipper of boats under us and watches that we are not over the line early
3. Jib trimmer for race
4. Trims & eases the jib per Skipper commands during start sequence
5. At Starting Gun, trims the jib for “speed” (not “point”), hikes as needed
6. Keeps side stay tell-tales free
7. Watches for oncoming sailboats, looking forward of jib
8. Gives Skipper information for location to weather mark
9. Sets up spinnaker pole at weather mark rounding
10. Raises spinnaker
11. Does all the spinnaker pole work (setting, gybing, stowing)
12. Responsible for Fraculator
13. Downwind: looks aft, watches for wind, feeds info to skipper.
14. middle is the second person to sit out to keep the boat flat.
Middle Crew: serves as tactician
1. Reads and reviews Notice of Race and Race Instructions
2. Trims sails as directed and needed
3. Flies spinnaker
4. Lowers the spinnaker, stuffs in bag
5. Gets weather report, copy important parts and bring on the boat
6. Checks on course & knows our position while racing
7. Is the first person to sit out to keep the boat flat
8. Pre-race: sets & reads the watch
Skipper:
1. Concentrates on making the boat go fast, feels the boat move through the water
2. Steers, checks trim on sails, checks angle of heel
3. Reviews NOR & Race Instructions with Middle Crew
4. Reviews starting tactics with crew
5. Reviews direction & course with crew
6. Sets up boat to get a good start
7. Makes the boat go fast
8. On mark roundings, tells crew how we will go ‘round the mark
9. Walks everyone through procedures
Etchells Class Crew Assignments - continued
Boat Set Up: On shore before we launch:
1. Skipper makes sail selection, pulls all unused sails off boat
2. Water and food put on board
3. Remove empty water bottles and any other trash found on board
4. Needed foul weather gear on board - stow in starboard side spin bag
5. Look for any problems while rigging
6. Forward sprays boat parts with silicone, and/or McLube*
7. Middle has the following information ready to put on board:
8. Weather forecast
9. Copy of previous day racing results
10. Crew checks over boat and rigging for any needed repairs or problems
11. Close keel drain plug - coat with vaseline
12. Check blades - no nicks or cracks
13. Rig sails:
14. Forward does the jib
15. Middle does the spinnakers
16. Skipper does the main sail with assistance of crew
17. Put on bridle
18. Forward checks to be sure we have side-stay tell-tales
19. Hose and brush boat sides and bottom as needed
20. With boat on hoist, clean keel bottom and hull at support pads
Pre-Race:
1. Get out early
2. Know start area
3. Discuss anticipated weather.
4. Review race instructions and standings, to include:
5. restarting procedure, restrictions and order of start
6. Establish Goals for the day!
7. Take wind readings, write these down
8. On the wind: recheck mast bend, mast blocks, mast butt location, Jib lead location; jib trim on the sheet & at the spreader, check backstay & main trim, traveler location
9. Do practice tacks
10. work on roll tacking the boat
11. Use crew weight to assist with sail shape
12. Find another boat to sail against upwind
13. Take more wind readings
14. Set-up for spinnaker set
15. Do practice mark rounding with spinnaker set
16. Practice a couple of gybes
17. Do a slow, controlled take-down. HAVE NO WRAPS!!!
Pre-Start:
1. Check in with race committee
2. Make note of course, read out loud, then write it down
3. Formulate an upwind and downwind game plan
4. Which side of the course go upwind
5. Which side going downwind
6. Know starting sequence:
7. Order of classes and starting pennants
8. Time sequence (10-5-0; 6-5-0; 5-4-0)
7. Recheck your watch, set for correct starting sequence
8. Keep checking wind direction & speed
9. Look for velocity changes
10. Shifts
11. Write down wind reading
12. Sail the line, get compass reading, find favored end
13. Ask skipper to review starting tactics
Start:
1. Watch Race Committee boat for start sequence shape
2. Start watch at shape hoist (gun)
3.Forward keeps eyes out of other boats
4. Middle reads time
5. Middle keeps skipper calm!!
6. Forward rechecks the boat, rig and set-up one last time. Clean up any loose lines.
7. Forward looks low, under the jib for on-coming boats, balances the boat as needed
8. Forward trims jib as directed, trying to keep the bow in clean air, listen to skipper to direction
9. Crew is prepared to back the mainsail to stop boat
First Up-wind leg:
1. Get to clear air
2. Look for a way to escape
3. Work to favored side of the course
4. Stay out of the middle of the course in light air
5. Light air: sail to the wind
6. Very light air, Forward crew sits below to leeward at mast
7. Forward keeps the boat flat
8. Forward stays out of the way of the skippers' view
9. Crew finds weather mark
10. Middle feeds skipper information on how we are doing against other boats, to windward
11. Forward reads wind & water conditions, feeds skipper this information
12. Skipper keeps eyes on water and forestay angle of heal
13. Middle keeps boat balanced
14. Crew: ready to tack at a moments notice
15. Forward thinks ahead to weather mark rounding
16. Middle looks at tactical considerations for rounding
17. As first boat around determines layline
18. As part of the pack, stay a little higher of layline
19. From Port, no rights within 2 boat lengths of the mark
20. Reviews spinnaker hoist and set procedures
21. Skipper sets up for best tactical rounding
22. Called for “pole set” when WW mark is made
23. Look aft for boats overtaking that put you in a “windward yacht” position
24. Tell crew if you want to do a gybe set
25. Have no fouls at the rounding!
Spinnaker legs: (rounding at weather mark) (this is if your Forward is out of the cockpit for spin sets)
1. Forward opens spinnaker bag, unclips halyard and sheet as needed
2. Forward finds starboard guy, pulls part of ‘chute out of the bag before going up on deck *
3. Forward pulls line to change fore guy angle
4. Forward puts sheet on the deck to release on rounding
5. Forward sets pole, most times, before we round
6. Middle gets spin sheets in hand
7. We put sheet at “the mark” on the cleat for the set
8. Middle checks twings: port side “off”, starboard side “on”
9. Middle tries to get the spinnaker foot that will be the guy to “pre-feed” to the luff of the jib
10. Forward tries to give distance to mark or off-set
11. At spin hoist Skipper asks “ready?” when both Forward & Middle say “yes”,
12. Forward hoists spinnaker very quickly!!! Halyard & cleat are marked.. There is a solid black mark when ‘chute is all the way up. The two broken marks are for tight reaches, keeping the ‘chute 12" off the mast.
13. Middle quickly pulls on the guy to get ‘chute flying, then trims with the sheet.
14. Forward releases jib halyard.
15. Forward goes forward to bow to put on fracolator wire
16. Forward calls for “jib halyard” to pull rig forward
17. Forward goes into cockpit, asks skipper which side to sit to balance the boat.
18. In really light air: up on deck, at side-stays on the leeward side
19. In winds where you are in the cockpit, get the guy sheet, work on pumping it back to increase speed.
20. Forward-looks around and feeds Skipper info on the other boats
21. Info as to wind from behind, puffs,
22. Info on other boats: coming up to take wind; bearing off to go past, etc.
21. Forward pumps water out of boat, if needed
22. Middle does NOTHING but keep spinnaker flying!
23. Middle feels ‘chute pulling, tells Skipper so he can bear off and ride puff
1. Forward goes up on deck, ready to gybe pole
2. Be sure to keep feet away from jib laying on the deck, stepping on the jib is like walking on ice!!!
3. Middle preps sheet and guy
4. Skipper calls “gybe-ho” and swings boom over
5. Skipper releases old spinnaker twing
6. As Middle flies spinnaker around,
7. Forward unhooks spin pole
8. In light air, after releasing the pole from the topping lift ring, push the pole forward and out during the gybe
9. In medium air, get the pole across the boat and on the new guy be sure to push the pole out (to weather) before attaching the pole to the mast
10. Call “made” once the pole is attached to the mast
11.In heavy air, use the momentum of the boat and spinnaker to get the pole attached to the guy. Be sure AT ALL TIMES to keep the pole away from your teeth!
12. Call “made” once the pole is attached to the mast
13. Middle crew has to work with the Forward crew on the spinnaker gybes
14. Keep the spinnaker sheets eased until the pole is “made” on the mast
15. Skipper tightens new twing, if needed.
16. Forward returns to best position for downwind boat speed
17. Continues to look aft and give tactical information
AT DOWNWIND MARK:
1. Coming up to the mark Skipper looks at position for rounding
2. Forward makes sure spinnaker halyard is clear
3. Skipper calls for jib up
4. Forward raises jib & sets it to mark we had going up wind
5. Forward tightens out-haul, if loosened
6. Skipper releases fore mast block line
7. Middle grabs bottom of spinnaker in one hand
9. Middle or Forward releases halyard with the other hand, pulls down spinnaker quickly
8. Middle packs spinnaker into turtle
9. Forward gets ready to trim jib in to go to weather
* * * Don't OVER TRIM or TRIM to EARLY * * *
10. Forward takes down spinnaker pole and puts on boom bails, light air - on the deck
11. Forward checks to see if there is a course change to the weather mark.
12. Forward trims jib as we round the mark
* * * Don't OVER TRIM or TRIM to EARLY * * *
13. Forward stays to leeward to assist the boat with turning and developing speed.
14. Middle asks Skipper if he needs help with trimming the mainsail, he helps pull in main sheet as needed
Second Upwind Leg:
1. Forward looks for the next mark, the weather mark
2. Forward mentally reviews the jib trim, halyard location/luff of the jib, jib tack setting are correct for the conditions
3. Forward checks that spin lines & pole are properly stowed for use at the weather mark.
4. Forward pump out boat, if you took on water
5. Forward makes sure there are no boats under our jib coming in our direction
6. Middle looks around at other boats that may be close by; do you have a clean lane? Do you need to tack for clean air or to get to the favored side of the course; are there any other boats that will prevent your tacking? Feed this info to Skipper.
7. The Team reviews what boats did well the first leg, what direction the leaders are going. - Check on any changing winds conditions.
8. Forward and Middle look for lanes, Skipper settles down and making the boat go fast.
9. Forward finds next mark, give range and bearing to Middle
10. Middle continues with mark position and other boat information to Skipper
11. Crew sits out as needed to keep boat flat.
Next Mark Roundings:
Same as before!
Watch for any course changes!!!
At the last mark to the finish line:
1. Skipper switches to finish line tactics
2. Remind skipper to: COVER, COVER, COVER
3. Looks for shortest way to the line
4. Select favored end of finish line
5. Identify competition defending and within reach, adopt strategy accordingly
6. Call shooting of line
Between Races:
1. Lower jib & relax
2. Middle sails the boat, winds permitting
3. Break out food & water
4. Review problems from last race
5. Setup boat for next race
6. Check spinnaker and make sure it's on the port side
7. Pump out boat if needed
8. Wipe off old course
9. Stay close to the start area!!!
Tips on being a better crew: Forward
1. Have electrical tape with you as you rig the jib
2. Tape closed the halyard shackle
3. You hook up the jib and fraculator, make sure it is correct to use at the weather mark
4. Check and recheck the spinnaker set-up: topping lift - fore guy correct for your boat
5. Spinnaker pole jaws lubed and work well
6. In light air we put the pole on the deck, guy in the jaws, with the topping lift hooked to the forward chain-plate to keep it out of the way of the jib
7. The topping lift and fore-guy are connected with a 6" piece of leech line on our boat
8. Middle - heavy wind the pole goes on the boom. You will have to keep the topping lift & fore- guy out of the way, it is easier than getting “hung” each time you tack.
9. Remember that before the pole set to release the ‘lift and guy
10. In hiking, stay out of the vision of the skipper
11. In tacks during light air, stay low as you trim the jib as the boat builds speed
12. Jib Trim: as the jib goes through the wind, trim in pretty hard to create flow across the sail; then ease to outside the spreaders about 6 - 8" in light air and 2" in heavy air. Trim in as you feel the boat begin to pick up speed, make your final trim when you feel the keel “bite” or the boat accelerates.
13. Work to keep the boat flat, position, position, position
14. When you see a puff, get the boat flat before it hits!
15. Get off the rail after the puff ends, heeling to windward is slow
16. Look to windward to spot puffs and lulls, tell skipper approx. time ‘til they hit as you get better at this you can learn to read the wind to call “lifts” and “headers” the way to tell, see the wind pattern on the water that is at a slightly different angle to the prevailing wind. look to windward to spot waves, flat spots on the water, waves come in four, the third one is usually the larger one. Tell skipper of the large wave or flat spot.
17. Know where the weather mark is, be able to give that info to Middle or Skipper when asked
18. Keep reading the compass, tell the skipper “up 5", “up 15" or “down 5", “down 15"
19. Know what the wind heading is for the leg you are on, or what it was last time you rounded the mark. Bad memory for numbers: write it down!
20. After the spinnaker halyard is hoisted, carefully coil it up, lay (on deck or in bottom of the boat) so that is does not twist or get a kink on the way down
Middle:
1. Work with Skipper to keep the boat in clear air
2. Know forecast wind direction & strength
3. Get on the water early to see actual wind direction & strength
4. Judge performance of our boat by how others are doing
5. Give informational reports
6. Make sure Skipper stays with the fleet
7. Keep looking for ways to improve fleet position, one boat at a time
8. Keep looking for ways to improve boat speed
9. Be ready with new ideas on how to improve boat speed
10. When things go wrong, get Skipper back in the race. You must stay CALM!
11. Stay calm in the heat of battle.
12. Work to be in sync with Skipper
13. Know who the competition is, know their strengths' & weaknesses
14. Keep reading the water
15. Talk to the Forward about what is coming up
16. Check Official Bulletin Board: Before & AFTER the days' races
17. Get chart of race area, study, make notes on expected conditions
18. Keep track of wind strength and direction.
19. Keep your wind clear, particularly after the start
20. When feeling “slow”, ease sails, “when in doubt, let ‘em out!”
21. When moving well, keep the boat “flat”
22. When tacking, look to windward and one boat length ahead, make sure you have smooth water to tack into.
23. To “kill” speed at the start: luff the jib & over-trim the main; to accelerate: trim jib and ease the main.
24. Remove all lines from cleats at the end of racing, this will save the springs
25. NEVER over trim the spinnaker, this is SLOW , keep a slight curl in the luff at all times
Tips on boat set-up:
1. Mark halyards, sheets and lines with “trim to” marks
2. Have three marks on the spin halyard, 4 slashes at 4' to the top; two slashes at 1' to the top; a fat black mark when the halyard is at the top
3. Mark the jib sheets
4. The spinnaker guy has a black mark at the twing when the pole is half the distance from the forestay to the side-stay. This is “pre-trim” position before the set.
5. Main sheet: have three black marks on the boom about a foot aft of the turning block made with 1/4" of Dymo label tape. There is black band on the main sheet made with a laundry marker.
6. Tape closed all halyard shackles!
7. Tape down all pins on the stays, cover anything that you think will snag a spinnaker
Use WD-40 to spray jib tracks, topping lift track, mast base, and side-stay turn-buckles; use McLube to spray traveler carriage; out-haul track, boom track, step block (both sides) mast at deck opening, spinnaker pole jaws, and mast track as far up as you can reach.
1. Life jacket per person one board
2. One “throw-able” device (USCG)
3. One pump and two buckets (at least 1 gallon size)
4. One paddle 5' long
5. One anchor w/chain to weigh 13 lbs. and 120' of 1/2” line
6. Tow line 83' long of 5/8” line
7. One sound device (whistle or horn) (USCG)
8. Three day-night flares (USCG)