IN ASSOCIATION WITH MANUFACTURERS OF PERFORMANCE HARDWAREThe alternative duck involves
slowing the boat by pinching just
enough to let the starboard
tacker cross clear ahead, building
a gap to leeward and allowing
you to hold your lane
The jib trimmer’s role
The jib trimmer trims for maximum
height: maximum trim with
cars possibly slightly forward or
down to reduce twist. However,
he or she is always ready, if the
helm pushes too hard and fully
backs the jib, to ease the sheet
to prevent an involuntary tack.The mainsheet
trimmer’s role
Mainsheet trims for height too:
minimum twist, maximum power.
As the boat comes upright as the
helm sails high he may be able
to sheet on or pull the traveller
up. He takes his cue from the
helmsman: he’s working to keep
some weather helm on as the boat
comes upright. He’s alert to the
“normal trim” call, and will set up
with very slightly more twist to get
the boat back to speed quickly.The helm’s role
The helmsperson is focussed on the
jib tell tales: aiming to eek every bit
of height possible without stalling
the foils and sliding sideways. If the
helmsperson feels the helm start to
go dead he or she will call for more
speed from the trimmers, and will
also call for “weight in” if feeling a
lack of weather helm. And as soon
as the normal trim call comes, the
helm will be focussed on getting
the boat back to maximum upwind
speed as quickly as possible.The spotter’s role
The spotter’s role is all-important. In a
dinghy this could be the helm or the
crew; on a keelboat it will probably be
the tactician. His or her job is to monitor
the relative positions of the boats, and
call the sailing mode to maximise the
efectiveness of the alternative cross.
It is easiest to gauge this when
there is land behind the starboard
tacker. If more land keeps appearing
around the front of their bow, you
are probably crossing: the faster it’s
moving, the more probable the cross.
If the land appears stationary behindthe bow of the starboard tacker, you’re
on a collision course: their bow will hit
you close to the position of the person
sighting. The alternative duck is on!
If the land is disappearing behind the
bow of the starboard tacker, they may
be clear ahead. Check the land against
the stern of the starboard tacker. If
the land is appearing from behind the
transom, they are probably crossing.
If not, the alternative duck is on.
There is not always a convenient
landscape on one side of the
course, but using this technique topractise crossing judgement calls
will set your datum and refine the
skill when they are not there.
As the boats converge, the spotter
constantly monitors the situation; calling
for height and allowing the boat to slow
as a result to delay any duck as long
as possible. If at any stage he sees that
the starboard boat will cross clear, he
calls for normal trim: the job is done.
The spotter also looks out for any
hint that the starboard tacker is setting
up for a tack: the last thing you need is
to be down on speed if that is likely.
SPORTOGRAPHY.TVJuly 2018 Yachts & Yachting 59