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ETCHELLS CLASS Crew Assignments Created by Gregory Geiger, past US Class Co-chairman, last modified: March 9, 2004
Forward Crew: learns about boat set up for different conditions and sail trim for those conditions - writes down the sailing course, wind readings and compass headings with china marker - Pre-race: tells Skipper of boats under bow watches that we are not over the line early - jib trimmer for race - trims & eases the jib per Skipper commands during start sequence - at Starting Gun, trims the jib for “speed” (not “point”), hikes as needed - reads compass while going upwind - keeps side stay tell-tales free - watches for oncoming sailboats, looking forward of jib - gives Skipper information for location to weather mark - sets up spinnaker pole at weather mark rounding - raises spinnaker - does all the spinnaker pole work (setting, gybing, stowing) - responsible for Fraculator - downwind: looks aft, watches for wind, feeds info to skipper & middle - is the second person to sit out to keep the boat flat
Middle Crew: serves as tactician and spinnaker trimmer - reads and reviews Notice of Race and Race - Sailing Instructions - trims sails as directed and needed - flies spinnaker - lowers the spinnaker, stuffs in bag - talks to local sailors, find out what is favored side for wind conditions - finds out who local “hot-shots” are, gets bow and sail #’s - gets weather report, copy important parts and bring on the boat - knows what time high & low tide are - checks on course & knows our position while racing - is the first person to sit out to keep the boat flat - Pre-race: sets & reads the watch - watches fleet leaders (we should be one of those) gives Skipper info - keeps track of fleet position at roundings Skipper: - concentrates on making the boat go fast, feels the boat move through the water - steers, checks trim on sails, checks angle of heel - reviews NOR & Race Instructions with Middle Crew - reviews starting tactics with crew - reviews direction & course with crew - sets up boat to get a good start - makes the boat go fast - on mark roundings tells crew how we will go ‘round the mark : walks everyone through procedures Boat Set Up: On shore before we launch: - Skipper makes sail selection, pulls all unused sails off boat - Water and food put on board - Remove empty water bottles and any other trash found on board - Needed foul weather gear on board - stow in starboard side spin bag - Look for any problems while rigging - Forward sprays boat parts with silicone, and/or McLube* - Middle has the following information ready to put on board: - weather forecast - tide schedule and current information - copy of previous day racing results - Crew checks over boat and rigging for any needed repairs or problems - Close keel drain plug - coat with Vaseline - Check blades - no nicks or cracks - Rig sails: - Forward does the jib - Middle does the spinnakers - Skipper does the main sail with assistance of crew - put on bridle - Forward checks to be sure we have side-stay tell-tales - Hose and brush boat sides and bottom as needed - With boat on hoist, clean keel bottom and hull at support pads Pre-Race: - Get out early - Know how to exit harbor, know hazards, channel markers - depth - Know start area - Know water depth at low tide - Discuss anticipated weather, tides and current for race course - Review race instructions and standings, to include: - restarting procedure, restrictions and order of start - Establish Goals for the day! - Check on current over race course - Review forecast winds - Take wind readings, write these down - Take current reading - 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 - Do practice tacks - work on roll tacking the boat - use crew weight to assist with sail shape - Find another boat to sail against upwind - Take more wind readings - Set-up for spinnaker set - Find floating object, set-up for practice mark rounding - Do practice mark rounding with spinnaker set - Record downwind compass readings - Practice a couple of gybes - Do a slow, controlled take-down. HAVE NO WRAPS!!! Pre-Start: - Check in with race committee - Make note of course, read out loud, then write it down - Formulate an upwind and downwind game plan - Which side of the course go upwind - Which side going downwind - Know starting sequence: - order of classes and starting pennants - time (6-5-0) - Recheck your watch, set for correct starting sequence - Keep checking wind direction & speed - look for velocity changes - shifts - Check current on pin - Write down wind reading - Sail the line, get compass reading, find favored end - Ask skipper to review starting tactics Start: - Watch Race Committee boat for start sequence shape - Start watch at shape hoist (gun) - Forward keeps eyes out of other boats - Middle reads time - Middle keeps skipper calm!! - Skipper thinks calm thoughts while mentally reviewing the start - Forward rechecks the boat, rig and set-up one last time. Clean up any loose lines. - Forward looks low, under the jib for on-coming boats, balances the boat as needed - Forward trims jib as directed, trying to keep the bow in clean air, listen to skipper to direction - Middle looks aft at boats that may duck to leeward and luff us up - Crew is prepared to back the mainsail to stop boat First Up-wind leg: - Get to clear air - look for a way to escape - Work to favored side of the course - Don’t hit the corners!!! - Stay out of the middle of the course in light air - light air: sail to the wind - very light air, Forward crew sits below to leeward at mast - Forward keeps the boat flat - Forward stays out of the way of the skippers’ view - Crew finds weather mark - Middle feeds skipper information on how we are doing against other boats, to windward - Forward reads wind & water conditions, feeds skipper this information - Forward reads compass, gives information as to lifted or headed by # of degrees - Skipper keeps eyes on water and forestay angle of heal - Middle keeps boat balanced - Crew: ready to tack at a moments notice - Crew: check passing buoys for current - Forward thinks ahead to weather mark rounding - Middle looks at tactical considerations for rounding - as first boat around determines layline - as part of the pack, stay a little higher of layline - from Port, no rights within 2 boat lengths of the mark - reviews spinnaker hoist and set procedures - announce compass heading to Downwind mark - Skipper sets up for best tactical rounding - tacking under the Starboard layline tackers, get clear air - as part of the Starboard layline parade, bear off at the approach of a Port tacker - keep jib in clear air - called for “pole set” when windward mark is made - look aft for boats overtaking that put you in a “windward yacht” position - tell crew if you want to do a gybe set - 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) - Forward opens spinnaker bag, unclips halyard and sheet as needed - Forward finds starboard guy, pulls part of ‘chute out of the bag before going up on deck * - Forward pulls line to change fore guy angle - Forward puts sheet on the deck to release on rounding - Forward sets pole, most times, before we round - Middle gets spin sheets in hand - we put sheet at “the mark” on the cleat for the set - Middle checks twings: port side “off”, starboard side “on” - Middle tries to get the spinnaker foot that will be the guy to “pre-feed” to the luff of the jib - Forward tries to give distance to mark or off-set - At spin hoist Skipper asks “ready?” when both Forward & Middle say “yes”, - 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. - Middle quickly pulls on the guy to get ‘chute flying, then trims with the sheet. Forward releases jib halyard. Forward goes forward to bow to put on fracolator wire Forward calls for “jib halyard” to pull rig forward Forward goes into cockpit, asks skipper which side to sit to balance the boat. - in really light air: up on deck, at side-stays on the leeward side - coil spinnaker halyard; put on deck by side-stays - in winds where you are in the cockpit, get the guy sheet, work on pumping it back to increase speed. Forward-looks around and feeds Skipper info on the other boats - info as to wind from behind, puffs, - info on other boats: coming up to take wind; bearing off to go past, etc. Forward pumps water out of boat, if needed Forward can get drinking water out, AFTER everything settles down! Middle does NOTHING but keep spinnaker flying! Middle feels ‘chute pulling, tells Skipper so he can bear off and ride puff Spinnaker Legs - continued AT GYBE MARK: (if used or when going downwind) - Skipper looks around to call for room at mark or that he is clear to gybe - Forward goes up on deck, ready to gybe pole - be sure to keep feet away from jib laying on the deck, stepping on the jib is like walking on ice!!! - Middle preps sheet and guy - Skipper calls “gybe-ho” and swings boom over - Skipper releases old spinnaker twing - As Middle flies spinnaker around, -Forward unhooks spin pole - in light air, after releasing the pole from the topping lift ring, push the pole forward and out during the gybe - 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 - call “made” once the pole is attached to the mast - 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! - again, call “made” once the pole is attached to the mast - Middle crew has to work with the Forward crew on the spinnaker gybes - Keep the spinnaker sheets eased until the pole is “made” on the mast - Skipper tightens new twing, if needed. - Forward returns to best position for downwind boat speed - continues to look aft and give tactical information AT DOWNWIND MARK: - Coming up to the mark Skipper looks at position for rounding - Forward makes sure spinnaker halyard is clear - Skipper calls for jib up - Forward raises jib & sets it to mark we had going up wind - Forward tightens out-haul, if loosened - Skipper releases fore mast block line - Middle grabs bottom of spinnaker in one hand - Middle or Forward releases halyard with the other hand, pulls down spinnaker quickly - Middle packs spinnaker into turtle - Forward gets ready to trim jib in to go to weather * * * Don’t OVER TRIM or TRIM to EARLY * * * - Forward takes down spinnaker pole and puts on boom bails, light air - on the deck - Forward checks to see if there is a course change to the weather mark. - Forward trims jib as we round the mark * * * Don’t OVER TRIM or TRIM to EARLY * * * * * * Follow the lead of the main sail * * * - Forward stays to leeward to assist the boat with turning and developing speed. - Middle asks Skipper if he needs help with trimming the mainsail, he helps pull in main sheet as needed Second Upwind Leg: - Forward gives compass headings, looks for the next mark, the weather mark - Forward mentally reviews the jib trim, halyard location/luff of the jib, jib tack setting are correct for the conditions - Forward checks that the spinnaker lines & pole are properly stowed for use at the weather mark. - Forward pump out boat, if you took water - Forward makes sure there are no boats under our jib coming in our direction - 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 boat that will prevent your tacking? Feed this info to Skipper. - The Team reviews what boats did well the first leg, what direction the leaders are going. - Check on any changing winds and tide conditions. - Forward and Middle look for lanes, Skipper settles down and making the boat go fast. - Forward continues with compass readings - Forward finds next mark, give range and bearing to Middle - Middle continues with mark position and other boat information to Skipper - 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: - Skipper switches to finish line tactics - Remind skipper to: COVER, COVER, COVER - Looks for shortest way to the line - Select favored end of finish line - Identify competition defending and within reach, adopt strategy accordingly - Call shooting of line Between Races: - Lower jib & relax - Middle sails the boat, winds permitting - Break out food & water - Review problems from last race - Setup boat for next race -check spinnaker -cleanup lines - pump out boat if needed - Reset yacht timer - Wipe off old course - Stay close to the start area!!!
Tips on being a better crew: Forward - - have electrical tape (white or yellow) with you as you rig jib. Tape closed the halyard shackle. - you hook up the jib and fraculator, make sure it is correct to use at the weather mark - check and recheck the spinnaker set-up: topping lift - fore guy correct for your boat - spinnaker pole jaws lubed (spray with McLube) and work well - 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 - the topping lift and fore-guy are connected with a 6" piece of leech line on our boat - middle - heavy wind the pole may go 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. - remember that before the pole set to release the ‘lift and guy - in hiking, stay out of the vision of the skipper - in tacks during light air, stay low as you trim the jib as the boat builds speed - 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. - work to keep the boat flat, position, position, position - if see a puff, get the boat flat before it hits! - be off the rail after the puff ends, heeling to windward is slow - 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. - know where the weather mark is, be able to give that info to Middle or Skipper when asked - keep reading the compass, I tell my skipper “up 5", “up 15" or “down 5", “down 15" - 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! Bad at doing the math: get a Hazard Course Computer (it doesn’t use batteries) - 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
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