This playbook provides a base-line understanding of each role on the J105. Each boat may decide to vary crew responsibilities based on experience. Pit refers to a position we have when sailing with six people.
Bow:
Call traffic in front of the boat and position relative to the line.
Trimmer P:
Blow and grind jib on one side.
Trimmer S:
Blow and grind jib on the other side. Call time to the line.
Pit:
Call time and traffic behind the boat. Assists with spin set if downwind starts, see Spin. Set.
Main & Helm:
Effort to hit the favored side of the line with speed and room to windward of any leeward boats.
Main trimmer trims the main to best trim until the boat is at polar speed.
Then go to the high side and watch the tactical situation while ensuring the main stays in trim.
Jump down to fine tune jib trim as necessary.
Bow:
Call wind.
Trimmer P:
Track boat heading to call lifts and headers
Trimmer S:
Call waves.
Pit:
Call relative speed and point to the nearest boat(s).
Main:
Main trimmer trims the main to best trim until the boat is at polar speed.
Then go to the high side and watch the tactical situation while ensuring the main stays in trim.
Jump down to fine tune jib trim as necessary.
Helm:
Drive and fine-tune adjustments to main.
Focus on keeping speed at target while pointing as high as possible.
Feel the boat lean into the wind, keep it loaded up.
Press down when the boat stands up.
Helm:
“Ready to Tack…..” “Tacking in 3, 2, 1, Tacking..”
Drive up moderately fast, slow turn at end to hit close hauled with jib trimmed in before it loads.
Time the drive to the trimmers and cross to the windward side with Pit and Bow and Off Trimmer as boat begins to heal.
Trimmer P/S:
Blow jib and cross the boat to hit the rail with Bow and Pit just as the boat starts to heal.
Trimmer S/P:
Tail and grind in jib, reset lazy sheet and winch handle and hit high side asap.
Pit & Bow:
Cross boat to hit rail just as boat starts to heal.
Main:
Start traveler to new side (ease fine-tune) and finish traveler to new side once crew is on rail (re-trim).
Trimmer S:
Preset spin sheet on port winch (with winch handle if needed);
Place sheet over starboard clutches in easy reach of Trimmer.
Bow:
At 10ish boat-lengths, “Can I go pre-feed?”
Helm:
“Go pre-feed.”
Bow:
Release spin halyard from shroud peg from high side.
Open hatch and pre-feed tack under jib and 2-3’ over bow pulpit and 2-3’ more slack on foot.
Then feed head under the jib and perhaps sneak the halyard up 3-4’. Keep sail on deck.
Pit:
Take up slack on spin halyard when released.
On pre-feed of tack, pull in tack-line to mark and take in slack on tack line in front of clutch.
Helm:
Call “ Boat lengths to mark…Ready on the Pole”
As turning down call, “Go Pole, Go Hoist.”
Once the sail is up and if tactics allow, come up slightly to fill spin.
Pit:
Pull the pole line to mark.
All the way out.
Bow:
Jump halyard until “Made;”
Jump furling line, ease outhaul and Cunningham.
Trimmer S:
Go to position on the starboard side pulling 10’ of lazy spin sheet toward the bow;
Take slack out of the working sheet; and when the halyard is made, trim.
Trimmer P:
Tail spin halyard on hoist.
Pit:
Furl jib then go to the windward side and do spin halyard house-keeping.
May stay in the pit if grinding is necessary.
Fraculate with jib sheets.
Helm:
Adjust backstay for spin shape
Main:
Ease main to trim
Bow:
Call wind.
Pit:
Call relative speed and point to the given boat(s).
Off Trimmer:
Call waves and track boat heading to call lifts and headers.
Main:
As above.
On Trimmer:
Ease when speed is up and looking for depth.
Call out when spin has pressure.
Helm:
Focus on keeping speed at target while driving as low as possible.
Call out when down-speed and coming up.
If at speed and spin curls, drive down and communicate. Feel the wind on your cheek.
Helm:
Call “Prepare to Jibe.”
Once people are in position, call “Coming Down.”
Pit:
Switch winch handle to new winch, take over sheet in companionway, say “Got It” still trimming ready to ease for gybe.
When the boat comes down, ease sheet until clew clears headstay, then “let go” sheet completely and feed old sheet out. Be ready to grind.
Then set up a lazy sheet for the next jibe.
Come to the windward side if not grinding.
Bow:
Get a new sheet in hand and cowboy the above jib clew.
Pull when the clew goes forward of headstay.
Past Trimmer:
Aft of Bow person gets a new sheet in hand to pull.
Pull when the clew goes forward.
New Trimmer:
Go to position with a new sheet behind the boom.
Take out all slack and sheet in once the clew has cleared headstay.
Helm:
Drive down as the clew is eased in front of headstay.
Stop turn essentially DDW until clew gets at least 2/3rd aft of headstay on the new side. Then complete gybe until main comes across (in heavier wind, just as the main crosses center, drive back down momentarily to unload main as it is eased) then come up slightly above new course to build speed.
Main:
Bring in main until the clew of spin is across to the new side of headstay.
Then bring the main across to the new side and ease quickly before the boat turns. (In lighter wind, throw the main across like a dinghy as long as the main trimmer can control the ease.)
Helm & Main:
Approaching leeward mark, decide and announce what type of douse to do.
Helm:
“Prepare for Upwind.”
Bow:
Put on Cunningham and Outhaul. (NB: It is critical, no matter what type of douse, to get the lazy jib sheet behind the hatch so spin comes in with no tangles on jib sheets.)
Helm:
Put on Backstay.
Trimmer S:
Trimming Spinnaker
Helm:
Drive 3 to 5 boat lengths to the windward mark. “Prepare to Douse”
Bow:
Go forward to open the hatch and put the port jib sheet behind the hatch; Grab lazy spin sheet and cowboy it high on furler.
Pit:
Ease port jib sheet from fracalation. Unfurl jib on starboard side to mark; Go forward into v-berth to squirrel
Helm:
“Heading Down and Going Douse.”
Drive down to unload spin about 1-2 boat lengths to right and upwind of mark lining up to come upwind after douse right at the mark.
Trimmer S:
Ease spin sheet and get off winch. Back up bow if necessary.
Trimmer P:
Ease 10’ of halyard; Once spin is under control, blow halyard; Once spin is in hatch, pole in and ease tack.
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).
Coming from Port Jibe:
Trimmer S:
Trimming Spinnaker
Helm:
Drive so you are above mark with room to come down to unload spin as necessary.
“Prepare to Douse…. Go Jib Out.”
Pit:
Ease port jib sheet from fracalation.
Unfurl jib on starboard side to mark; Go forward into v-berth to squirrel
Bow:
Open hatch, get port jib sheet aft of hatch and ready to grab foot of spinnaker under jib.
Trimmer S:
Strap in spinnaker; Back up bow if necessary.
Trimmer P:
Ease halyard staying ahead of take in;
Then once spin is under control, ease spin sheet;
Then pole in and ease tack.
Trimmer P:
Trimming Spinnaker
Helm:
“Prepare to Douse”
Main:
Set traveler to position for port tack upwind.
Pit:
Unfurl jib on starboard side to mark (the “wrong” side). Go forward to the v-berth to ‘squirrel’.
Bow:
Go forward to open the hatch and put the port jib sheet behind the hatch and ready to grab the sail.
Lift, spin foot over head, pull foot aft, then straight down.
Helm:
“Strap it In…” then “Go Douse and Jibing.” Drive a boat through a jibe.
Trimmer P:
Strap in spinnaker sheet as boat jibes; Back up bow if necessary
Trimmer S:
Once spinnaker is against jib, blow spinnaker halyard; Then once spin is under control, ease spin sheet, then pole in and ease tack.
Main:
Jibe main as normal and trim in for upwind immediately.
Bow:
Call traffic in front of the boat and position relative to the line.
Trimmer P:
Blow and grind jib on both sides.
Trimmer S:
Call time to the line, time and traffic behind the boat. (Assist with tacks and with spin set if downwind starts, see Spin. Set.)
Main & Helm:
Effort to hit the favored side of the line with speed and room to windward of any leeward boats. Main trimmer trims the main to best trim until the boat is at polar speed.
Then go to the high side and watch the tactical situation while ensuring the main stays in trim. Jump down to fine tune jib trim as necessary.
Bow:
Call wind.
Trimmer P:
Call relative speed and point to the given boat(s). (I prefer hearing how we are relative to a given boat. i.e. “We are higher and faster than… )
Trimmer S:
Track boat heading to call lifts and headers. Call waves.
Main:
Main trimmer trims the main to best trim until the boat is at polar speed.
Then go to the high side and watch the tactical situation while ensuring the main stays in trim. Jump down to fine tune jib trim as necessary.
Helm:
Drive and fine-tune adjustments to main.
Focus on keeping speed at target while pointing as high as possible.
Feel the boat lean into the wind, keep it loaded up. Press down when the boat stands up.
Helm:
“Prepare to Tack…..” “Tacking in 3, 2, 1, Tacking..”
Drive up moderately fast, slow turn at end to hit close hauled with jib trimmed in before it loads.
Time the drive to the trimmers and cross to windward side with Bow and Off Trimmer as boat begins to heal.
Trimmer P/S:
Blow jib and cross the boat to hit the rail with Bow just as boat starts to heal.
Trimmer S/P:
Tail and grind in jib, reset lazy sheet and winch handle and hit high side asap.
Bow:
Cross boat to hit rail just as boat starts to heal.
Main:
Start traveler to new side and finish traveler to new side once crew is on rail.
Trimmer S:
Preset spin sheet on port winch (with winch handle if needed);
Place sheet over starboard clutches in easy reach of Trimmer.
Bow:
At 10ish boat-lengths, “Can I go pre-feed?”
Helm:
“Go pre-feed.”
Bow:
Release spin halyard from shroud shackle from high side.
Open hatch and pre-feed tack under jib and 2-3’ over bow pulpit and 2-3’ more slack on foot.
Then feed head under the jib and perhaps sneak the halyard up 3-4’. Keep sail on deck.
Trimmer P:
Take up slack on spin halyard when released.
On pre-feed of tack, pull in tack-line to mark and take in slack on tack line in front of clutch.
Helm:
Call “ Boat lengths to mark…Ready on the Pole”
While turning down, call, “Go Pole, Go Hoist.”
Once the sail is up and if tactics allow, come up slightly to fill spin.
Trimmer P:
Pull the pole line to mark. All the way out.
Then tail spin halyard on hoist.
Furl jib then go to the windward side and do spin halyard house-keeping. May stay in the pit if grinding is necessary.
Bow:
Jump halyard until “Made;” Jump furling line, ease outhaul and cunningham.
Trimmer S:
Go to position on the starboard side pulling 10’ of lazy spin sheet toward the bow; Take slack out of the working sheet; and when the halyard is made, trim.
Helm:
Ease backstay
Main:
Ease main to trim then fracalate with jib sheets.
Bow:
Call wind. Call relative speed and point to the given boat(s).
Off Trimmer:
Call waves and track boat heading to call lifts and headers
Main:
As above.
On Trimmer:
Ease when speed is up and looking for depth. Call out when spin has pressure.
Helm:
Focus on keeping speed at target while driving as low as possible. Call out when down-speed and coming up. If at speed and spin curls, drive down and communicate. Feel the wind on your cheek.
Helm:
Call “Prepare to Jibe.”
Once people are in position, call “Coming Down.”
New Trimmer:
Switch winch handle to new winch; Go to position with new sheet behind the boom.
Take out all the slack and sheet once the clew has cleared the headstay.
Bow:
Get a new sheet in hand and cowboy the above jib clew.
Pull when the clew goes forward of headstay.
Past Trimmer:
When the boat comes down, ease sheet until clew clears headstay, then blow sheet completely.
Then assist Bow pulling a new sheet in when clew is forward of headstay.
Then set up a lazy sheet for the next jibe.
Helm:
Drive down as the clew is eased in front of headstay.
Stop turn essentially DDW until clew gets at least 2/3rd aft of headstay on the new side.
Then complete the jibe until main comes across (in heavier wind, just as the main crosses center, I drive back down momentarily to unload main as it is eased) then come up slightly above new course to build speed.
Main:
Bring in main until the clew of spin is across to the new side of headstay. Then bring the main across to the new side and ease quickly before the boat turns. (In lighter wind, we throw the main across like a dinghy as long as the main trimmer can control the ease.)
Helm & Main:
Approaching leeward mark, decide and announce what type of douse to do.
Helm:
“Prepare for Upwind.”
Bow:
Put on Cunningham and Outhaul. (NB: It is critical, no matter what type of douse, to get the lazy jib sheet behind the hatch so spin comes in with no tangles on jib sheets.)
Helm:
Put on Backstay.
Trimmer S:
Trimming Spinnaker
Helm:
Drive a couple boat lengths to the windward mark. “Prepare to Douse”
Bow:
Go forward to open the hatch and put the port jib sheet behind the hatch; Grab lazy spin sheet and cowboy it high on furler.
Trimmer P:
Ease port jib sheet from fracalation. Unfurl jib on starboard side to mark; Go forward into v-berth to squirrel
Trimmer S:
Come to the pit.
Helm:
“Heading Down and Going Douse.” Drive down to unload spin about 1-2 boat lengths to right and upwind of mark lining up to come upwind after douse right at the mark.
Trimmer S:
Ease spin sheet and get off winch. Ease 10’ of halyard; Once spin is under control, blow halyard; Once spin is in hatch, pole in and ease tack.
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.
Coming from Port Jibe:
Trimmer S:
Trimming Spinnaker
Helm:
Drive so you are above mark with room to come down to unload spin as necessary. “Prepare to Douse…. Go Jib Out.”
Trimmer P:
Ease port jib sheet from fracalation. Unfurl jib on starboard side to mark; Go forward into v-berth to squirrel
Bow:
Open hatch, get port jib sheet aft of hatch and ready to grab foot of spinnaker under jib.
Trimmer S:
Move into the Pit. On “Go Douse” Strap in spinnaker; Ease halyard staying ahead of take in; Then once spin is under control, ease spin sheet; Then pole in and ease tack.
Trimmer P:
Trimming Spinnaker
Helm:
“Prepare to Douse”
Main:
Set traveler to position for port tack upwind.
Trimmer S:
Unfurl jib on starboard side to mark (the “wrong” side). Go forward to the v-berth to the squirrel.
Bow:
Go forward to open the hatch and put the port jib sheet behind the hatch and ready to grab sail. Lift, spin foot over head, pull foot aft, then straight down.
Trimmer P:
Move into the Pit.
Helm:
“Strap it In…” then “Go Douse and Jibing.” Drive the boat through a jibe.
Trimmer P:
Strap in spinnaker sheet as boat jibes; Once spinnaker is against jib, blow spinnaker halyard; Then once spin is under control, ease spin sheet, then pole in and ease tack.
Main:
Jibe main as normal and trim in for upwind immediately
A huge thank you to Team J/105 Delirium for putting together their invaluable playbook for future J/105 teams. Their hard work and success, including earning a spot in the Top 25 Sailboats in the Pacific Northwest from 2012 to 2018, will serve as a lasting resource to inspire and guide new racers. Note that although the original playbook has been kept mostly as written, some edits were added to fit our document style and terminology.
J/105 Six-Handed Playbook