This playbook provides a base-line understanding of each role on the J80 and how we teach it at Seattle Sailing Club. It is the “SSC-way”. There are many different ways to approach maneuvers on the J80 that are also good, but for consistency, this is the way it will be taught by the club.
Bow: Call traffic (especially when on Port) and position relative to the line.
Pit/Jib: Play Jib. Trim in on Helm command.
Middle: Play Main per Helm instruction. And/or help with Jib. Call favored end and help plan start strategy.
Helm: Once start strategy is determined, Helm has full control of boat.
Helm: Your only job is to keep the boat going fast! Steer for Point and Speed. Don’t look around! Ask crew for information on other boats and the fleet. Play backstay in puffs. Communicate with Middle on Traveler adjustment. In light air, play Mainsheet to keep Main “breathing”.
Depower Order of adjustment:
Anticipate puffs: Don’t wait until boat is heeled over to make adjustment. Keep the boat on its feet by depowering just as puff hits. Be ready to repower after puff eases off. IT IS CRITICAL THAT CREW CALLS PUFFS!
Middle: Adjust/Play Traveler. Keep tabs on wind and fleet. Call Tactics. Help Helm with Main Sheet in Heavy air.
Pit/Jib: Hike and Call Point/Speed relative to other boats (“Higher/Lower, Faster/Slower”). Find windward mark. Look behind Jib for Starboard Tackers (when on Port).
Bow: Hike and call wind and waves. “Puff hitting in 5”, “Big Wave in 10”. Then count down.
Helm: “Ready to Tack…..” “Tacking in 3, 2, 1, Tacking..”
Eyes forward.
Slow to begin. Don’t jam tiller! Finish faster stopping just under normal close hauled position. Gradually come to point after boat comes to target speed.
If light air, ease Main a bit during tack to help accelerate after tack. Stay on low side until boat gets moving. Then sheet in Main for optimum trim.
Middle: Helps Pit with Jib if needed. Pulls traveler to windward right after tack.
Pit/Jib: Main handler of Jib. Calls release (if Middle is helping). Trims to new side a few inches short of maximum trim. Trims in as boat accelerates.
Bow: Switches to new side in front of mast. Make sure your feet are inside the sheets!
Helm: Keeps track of mark and calls preset. Takes control of Mainsheet to ease during rounding.
Middle: Takes control of Port Spinnaker sheet
Pit/Jib: Pre-feeds Spinnaker tack to preset position
Bow: Helps tack of Spinnaker to prefeed position. Makes sure Spinnaker halyard is forward of spreaders. Eases Cunningham and outhaul. Goes to mast for Spinnaker raise.
Helm: As boat rounds mark. Eases Main and calls for Spinnaker raise
Middle: Has hand on Spinnaker sheet and takes out slack, but does not trim in until bow calls “Made!” (otherwise it is almost impossible for them to get the halyard all the way up). Once “Made!” is called, overtrims to fill Spinnaker, then immediately eases to proper trim position.
Pit/Jib: As Spinnaker is raising, sets pole. Makes sure tack is all the way in. After Spinnaker is set, furls Jib.
Bow: Raises Spinnaker with big arm movements. Yells “Made!” when halyard is fully raised.
Helm: Concentrates on keeping the boat moving with minimal Helm movement. Eases backstay. Is in constant communication with Spinnaker trimmer. Calls tactics and strategy with help from crew.
Middle: Trims Spinnaker keeping a slight curl. Always letting out until curl. Communicates pressure to Helm. “Good Pressure”, “You have downs”, “Overpowered”, “Losing pressure, up 2 clicks”
Pit/Jib: First thing is organizing lines (halyard, tack, pole) so they are not tangled and are free to be deployed at any time. Very important! Helps with Spinnaker trim (on winch) if Spinnaker trimmer needs it.
Bow: Looks aft and calls puffs. Keeps weight forward for proper boat trim.
Helm: “Prepare to Jibe”. When crew is ready, “Coming down”. When downwind, calls “Jibing!” In light air, holds Main from crossing until Spinnaker has been set on new Jibe. (This allows the Spinnaker to fill without being blocked by the Main)
Middle: Eases Spinnaker as bow turns down. Makes sure old sheet is free and helps it to spool out. Takes back sheet after Jibe is complete.
Pit/Jib: Takes new Spinnaker sheet. When Helm calls “Jibing!”, hauls in the new sheet as fast as possible, initially overtrimming while being ready for a big ease once the Spinnaker fills. Passes Spinnaker sheet to middle. Organizes old Spinnaker sheet.
Bow: Helps Spinnaker clew around. Grabs clew and pulls down and back on the new side.
On Approach to Leeward Mark.
Helm: Decide (with help of crew) on which douse to use. Puts on backstay to upwind setting.
Middle: Maintains proper Spinnaker trim.
Pit/Jib: Checks Halyard, Tack and Sprit lines to insure they can run free. Keeps tabs on other boats.
Bow: Puts on Outhaul and Cunningham to upwind settings.
Helm: Works upwind to allow the boat to go as deep as possible. At about 4 boat lengths “Heading Down”. Calls “Douse!”.
Middle: Eases Spinnaker Maintaining trim. On Douse call, Pulls Spinnaker to windward side using the lazy sheet. Overtrims so Bow can grab the middle of the sail. Once Spinnaker is coming down, helps with Mainsheet as boat rounds up through the turn.
Pit/Jib: Unfurls Jib and cleats off close hauled on Starboard. Makes sure working sheet is free to go around bow. On “Douse” call, blows sprit to take pressure off tack. When bow has sail in hand, blows tack. Drops Spinnaker (controlled!) when Bow calls “Halyard Down!” Helps get Spinnaker into bag.
Bow: Gets a hand on middle of the foot of the Spinnaker and gathers foot inside the life lines. Calls “Tack!” for Pit to blow tack line, gathers foot together and Calls “Halyard”. Brings in
Helm: Works upwind to allow the boat to go as deep as possible. At about 4 boat lengths “Heading Down”. Calls “Douse!”. Concentrates on a proper rounding, other boats, and Maintaining a good line coming out of the turn. Does NOT get involved with douse unless things go completely south.
Middle: Eases Spinnaker Maintaining trim. On Douse call, Overtrims so Bow can grab the middle of the sail. Once Spinnaker is coming down, helps with Mainsheet as boat rounds up through the turn.
Pit/Jib: Unfurls Jib and cleats off close hauled on Starboard (for both Port and Starboard douses) . On “Douse” call, blows sprit to take pressure off tack. When bow has sail in hand, blows tack. Drops Spinnaker (controlled!) when Bow calls “Halyard Down!” Helps get Spinnaker into bag.
Bow: Gets a hand on middle of the foot of the Spinnaker and gathers foot inside the life lines. Calls “Tack!” for Pit to blow tack line, gathers foot together and Calls “Halyard”. Brings in
This douse may be done from Port Jibe if setting up for a Jibe set on next windward rounding. It may be done from a starboard Jibe if you want to douse early before rounding in a big wind).
Helm: Works upwind to allow the boat to go as deep as possible. At about 4 boat lengths “Heading Down”. Calls “Jibe! And Douse!”. Jibes Main. Concentrates on a proper rounding, other boats, and Maintaining a good line coming out of the turn. Does NOT get involved with douse unless things go completely south.
Middle: Eases Spinnaker Maintaining trim. After/During Jibe, overtrims so Bow can grab the sail. Once Spinnaker is coming down, helps with Mainsheet as boat rounds up through the turn.
Pit/Jib: Unfurls Jib and cleats off close hauled on Starboard. After Jibe, when Spinnaker is against Jib, blows tack and pole. Drops Spinnaker (controlled!) when Bow calls “Halyard Down!” Helps get Spinnaker into bag. Gets up and hiking as quickly as possible (if needed)
Bow: After Jibe, Grabs clew of Spinnaker. Calls “Tack and Pole” for Pit to blow tack and Pole lines, gathers foot together and Calls “Halyard”. Brings to Cabin and helps stuff into bag. Gets up and hiking as quickly as possible.
Notes on Spinnaker wraps: