Drop an Asymmetric Spinnaker Three Ways

One of the most challenging things a crew can experience is the take down of the asymmetric spinnaker. By practicing the three types of takedowns, the J/120 racer can become more competitive on mark roundings.

Leeward Take Down

Situation: approaching leeward mark above lay line in wind over 7 knots.

Set-up: All spare hands on foredeck, one crewman at halyard and at the tack line lock, and one crew below to pull sail through forward hatch. The tack line should be wrapped around the genoa winch to prevent the losing of that crewman's skin on his hands and the crewman below should have a ha hold of the takedown sheet.

1. Unfurl or raise the jib.
2. Let the spinnaker sheet go – release it completely. The foredeck person should pull on the spinnaker tack takedown sheet with assistance of another person. The helmsman should bear off a little to blanket the kite with the main and headsail. Grab the middle of the foot to keep it out of the water and haul the sail into the boat through the forward hatch. The person on the halyard should only release it as fast as the foredeck crew can keep the foot out of the water.
3. Lay the tack head and clew outside the hatch cover and close hatch or repack as needed.

Weather Take Down

Situation: approaching the leeward mark in light air or below lay line.

Set-up: Two crew on foredeck, cockpit crew on sheet, spinnaker halyard, tackline, and one crew below to pull sail through forward hatch.

1. Unfurl or raise jib. Grab the spinnaker lazy sheet.
2. Steer boat almost dead down wind
3. After boat has started to bear away the foredeck team starts pulling hard on the tack line sheet to bring the kite around the head stay. The chute must collapse as the boat turns down. If it doesn’t you won’t be able to pull it around. If the chute won’t collapse release the tack completely. Don’t ease it part way as this will make the sail deeper release it all the way and the sail will collapse. An alternate method is to pull the lazy sheet instead of the pull in tack line around the headfoil as shown in the picture.
4. Keep the jib sheeted in hard so that the spinnaker cant go anywhere except on the deck.
5. After the kite collapses and the clew is pulled around the forestay, begin to ease the spinnaker halyard. When most of the sail is pulled to the weather side, release the halyard completely and the kite will fall down the jib and into forward hatch. The bow must remain down in this maneuver otherwise you can lose control as it’s coming down.

Mexican Take Down

Situation: Coming to the leeward mark where you have to gibe to round it. This type of takedown is the quickest method and can be used in heavier air.

Set-up: As for the weather drop but the foredeck crew is on leeward side.

1. Unfurl or raise jib on the opposite board as the spinnaker.
2. Foredeck crew grabs the lazy sheet on leeward side.

3. As the boat gibes four things must happen:

   1. The foredeck crew pulls on the lazy sheet and then grabs the foot of the kite as it comes across.
   2. The cockpit crew gibes the spinnaker. A cockpit crewmember pulls the spinnaker leech to keep the sail from blowing behind the mast.
   3. The cockpit crew begins to ease the kite halyard just as the boat begins to turn.
   4. By the time the boat is in mid gibe the halyard is well down, the spinnaker sheet is being eased, and the kite should be ready to collapse into the fore triangle on the weather side to funnel the kite down to the deck. The helmsman needs to watch the drop and turn the boat fast enough to keep the spinnaker on the new weather side. If he turns too slowly it will drop into the water as the gibe is completed.
4. With a good rate of turn the chute will drop onto the foredeck, but it is important not to ease the tack line until the sail is fully under control. If the sail ends up in the water you won’t lose control of it if the tack is still nailed but if the sail is in the water with the tack eased then you’ll end up with the sail damaged.