Dragonfly 32 Swing Wing, Manual

Page: 47 / 80

GIBING WITH SPINNAKER:
Go fully downwind and KEEP the mainsail here, DON’T pull over the main yet –
pull over the endless spinnaker sheet, so you now see the spinnaker clew 2-3
metres (6 feet) on the windward side and now SLOWLY jibe the mainsail, while
you keep pulling the spinnaker sheet
– you will see that it works perfectly.
Important is to start pulling over the spinnaker before you jibe the mainsail.
If you sail alone
– pull the spinnaker full to windward before you gibe.
For downwind sailing like 160-170 degrees, we recommend to pull the tack of the
spinnaker to windward, by using the windward genoa barberhauler line that you
find on the foredeck of the float
– fix the barberhaul line to the tack of the
spinnaker and with the barberhauler you can now release the tack line and pull
the spinnaker to windward to the windward float, but downwind make sure to
have 60 to 70 cm distance between the flatbow and the spinnaker. Only use this
system for longer distance downwind.
Sailing downwind, it is actually a perfect course if you line up the Windex arrow
with the leeward Windex marker/arm (the Windex have two arms facing back)
this way you will find that you are sailing basically 160 degrees downwind
–
which is the best you can do when the spinnaker is pulled to the windward float.
TAKING DOWN THE SPINNAKER:
NEVER sail the spinnaker without main sail!!! It can become very difficult and
dangerous to get it down without the wind shade behind the mainsail.
If the wind increases, it is a bit more difficult to take down the spinnaker. Practice
can eliminate this problem. Prepare the spinnaker halyard and tack line and the
sheets so that these lines
can “run” out without any problems.
Bear off to full downwind, ease out the mainsheet and fix the mainsail boom with
the preventer/boomwang. Now pull the spinnaker sheet tight in behind the
mainsail
– and you will see that the spinnaker completely has no wind and no
pressure because of the wind shade from the mainsail –
Now slacken/release the bowsprit tack line completely off first, and the spinnaker
now easy fly back and automatically in behind the mainsail like a flag
– yes and
even in stronger winds it will do this - now from the trampoline netting you pull
down the sock close behind the mainsail, this is very easy and is no stress.