Yachts & Yachting — February 2018

PAUL WYETH

KEELBOAT PLAYBOOK: PART 2

BEAR AWAY SET

A slick transition to the owind leg can gain you vital seconds.

RUPERT HOLMES looks at how the crew can best work together

T

he bear away set is the

easiest way of hoisting

a spinnaker, and one

that pretty much every

racing team will naturally

assume they do well. However, the

reality is very dierent, so it’s worth

taking time to analyse whether or

not you are typically doing it well.

It’s worth remembering that the

circumstances are slightly dierent,

depending on whether it’s a single

windward mark that’s rounded (as

when racing oshore, for instance) or

an inshore windward/leeward course

that will typically also have a spreader

mark. e latter gives some time for

nal preparation on the spreader leg

and a smaller angle through which to

bear away at the mark. It also leaves

open the possibility of approaching

the windward mark on the port

layline without being disadvantaged

through being slower to set the kite.

52 Yachts & Yachting February 2018 yachtsandyachting.co.uk

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