GYBE
A SWITCH OF SAILSIDE ON A RUN ,WHERE THE STERN OF THE SHIP TURNS THROUGH THE WIND .
THE FORCES ON THE RIGG AND BOAT ARE MUCH BIGGER DURING A GYBE THAN DURING TACKING. THEREFORE THERE ARE ALSO GREATER RISKS INVOLVED.
AN UNCONTROLLED GYBE IN STRONG WINDS CAN CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGE TO CREW AND SHIP. WE CAN GYBE ON A STRAIGHT COARSE (STRAIGHT GYBE) OR IN A SMOOTH TURN (TURNING GYBE)
STRAIGHT GYBE
GYBING IN 3 STEPS :
- CHECK THAT YOU ARE SAILING EXACTLY DOWNWIND.
MOVE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TILLER (KEEP LOOKING FORWARD) WITHOUT CHANGING COURSE, AND CHECK AGAIN - CALL “READY TO GYBE!” AND QUICKLY PULL IN THE MAINSHEET.
KEEP STEERING DOWNWIND BY HOLDING THE TILLER UNDER YOUR ARM AND STEERING WITH YOUR BODY. WHEN THE SHEET IS ALMOST AMIDSHIPS, GIVE IT ONE LAST PULL — THE SAIL WILL USUALLY SWITCH SIDES BY ITSELF AS THE WIND CATCHES THE LEECH.
IF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN, BEAR AWAY SLIGHTLY (BOW TOWARD THE BOOM) TO HELP THE SAIL FLIP OVER. IN LIGHT WIND, YOU CAN ALSO GRAB THE ENTIRE SHEET BUNDLE WITH ONE HAND AND MOVE IT TO THE OTHER SIDE. - LOOK UP. CALL “GYBE HO!” AS THE MAINSAIL COMES OVER.
YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY COUNTER-STEER TO STAY ON THE DOWNWIND COURSE. AT THE SAME TIME, EASE THE SHEET SMOOTHLY (DO NOT LET IT SLIDE THROUGH YOUR HAND).
TURNING GYBE IN 4 STEPS:
THE WHOLE MANOEUVRE IS A TURN WHICH BEGINS EN ENDS ON A BROAD REACH.
- 1 READY FOR GYBE:
LOOK IF THERE SPACE ON THE LEEWARD SIDE
CHECK IF MAIN SHEET IS CLEAR OF OBSTUCTIONS
START THE TURN BY SLOWLY BEAR AWAY
(RELEASE THE MAIN SHEET)
- 2 GYBING
START THE TURN BY SLOWLY BEAR AWAY
(EASE OUT THE MAIN SHEET)
WHEN POINT OF SAIL IS CLOSE TO RUNNING:
-HELMSMAN MOVES TO THE OTHER SIDE , PULLS
IN THE MAIN SHEET , WHILE THE BOAT STILL TURNS
- BRING JIB TO WINDWARD SIDE (WING ON WING)
- 3 GYBE-HO
WHEN THE WIND CATCHES THE NEW SIDE OF THE MAINSAIL :
- THE BOOM COMES OVER THE CENTER
- RELEASE THE MAINSHEET (LET GO !)
- HOLD THE TILLER FIRMLY, TO STOP THE TURN
- 4 SLOWLY HEAD UP TO A NEW POINT OF SAIL
(BRING IN / TRIM SHEETS)