Good points and good video for learning.
My take on it. Always blame the crew. Actually one of the things I didn't
know prior to sailing the Swift is that the mainsheet on an asymmetrical
skiff should never be let out during or after the gybe (until everybody is out
and settled).
Initially, it looked like they were in a lull and the early part of the gybe
was suburb, except the mainsheet hand let it out when he came in off the
wire. Instead of the main/boom coming across and stopping in a stalled
condition, it was far enough out that it had a lot of power (attachment) and
tripped
the boat--big impact. The skipper wisely steered under the rig to neutralize
the impact and then began heading up for balance only to have the mainsheet
hand compound the problem by letting the thing out again until it had full
attachment / full heeling moment. The mainsail went from stalled to
attachment
to stalled to attachment as the skipper steered wildly to stay under the rig.
On paper, The Swift should be much harder to gybe than the 49er. In
reality, it is much easier because the main stays cleated in it's high speed
position (18" off the centerline) and has almost no impact when the
sheet/briddle
gets tight on the new tack. You'll be shocked at how easy it is as long as
you
do a reasonable job of keeping your speed up. Two sail Gybes are not as
easy but if you keep the boat heated up going in and don't let the main out
any
further than necessary, it is still far easier than the 49er. I use a
knot/plastic ball system in the main and jib sheeting system to keep it from
going
very far out even when it isn't cleated. The bear away requires some outward
play and it is hard to quickly sheet it back in and cleat it while rotating
the boat and ducking the boom
Geez, I sound like a vacuum cleaner salesman!!
Bram
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