If, for example, you are anchoring or beaching for a short time with the mainsail set, then
loosen the luff tension in the sail to quieten the boat.
GENNAKER SAILING
Sailing with the gennaker is a "third" dimension in sailing which a lot of people dread caused
by bad experiences. On a trimaran gennaker sailing is fun and a comfortable adventure. A
trimaran is not heeling from one side to the other (rolling), and the gennaker pole is non-
existent. With a little practice, you can actually handle the gennaker alone, but always
handle it with respect!! If you respect the gennaker and use it with reason, it is great – also
when cruising.
If the gennaker has been damp or wet from sailing, it should be dried before packing. Or, if
it is not too wet, leave it in the cabin spread out to dry.
SETTING THE GENNAKER
The bowsprit must be folded out in position first. You can best set the gennaker from the
lee trampoline netting behind the mainsail. Mount sheets, the halyard and the tack line.
Make sure that the lines run correctly, that the gennaker halyard for example is not twisted
around the forestay or the diamond spreader. The sheet runs just around the forestay.
Hoist the gennaker up in the spinnaker sock – set the sheet in leeward side of the winches.
The best is to use the genoa winch on the deck, pull the tack line tight, then pull up the
spinnaker sock with the endless line, make sure you are sailing downwind. Then the
spinnaker sock is up, you can tie the line, that you have pulled up, on the stainless handrail
on the cabin top. Then pull out the tack line, so the tack of the gennaker is pulled tight to
the bowsprit. Now you can luff up a bit closer to the wind, and the gennaker will fill up.
CAUTION
If you feel any resistance hoisting it or sheeting it, stop pulling immediately. It does not take
much to rip it apart if it is stuck! When the gennaker is full, roll in the genoa. It is very
important that your gennaker fills first or you will find yourself rolling it into the genoa. It
never pays sailing with both genoa and gennaker.
Then roll up the furling genoa, but not before the gennaker is fully set.
VERY IMPORTANT
If a wind gust comes, then bear off the wind quickly, then you quickly depower the boat.
