Irina Gracheva is a Russian Mini Transat sailor. Ullman Sails is a proud sponsor of this intrepid young woman and we always love following her adventures. In her recent blogs, she has given us great insight into some lessons she has learnt while solo sailing downwind and taken us through the various methods for dropping the spinnaker.

Now she writes for us again, this time with some top tips that you can take away for your own spinnaker drops:

1. Always hoist the jib

Hoist the jib anyway, even if you don’t need to (for instance if you’ve just crossed the finish line). In less wind, it will ensure you don’t lose momentum while bringing down the spinnaker, while in strong winds, it helps to create an additional wind shadow so that there is not so much pressure on the spinnaker.

2. Fix two points at all times

To ensure a successful and safe spinnaker drop, be sure that two points of the sail are always kept fixed. Remember – you may ease only one rope at a time – halyard, tackline or sheet (depending on dropping procedure). If you do not follow this rule your spinnaker may fly uncontrolled and risk dropping into the water.

3. Don’t forget the tackline

The tackline is one of the most important ropes in ensuring a fast and safe spinnaker drop. Always keep your tackline well maintained – the rope must be rigid to avoid twisting and knotting. The tackline rope must also be carefully prepared so that it can run smoothly from the free end to the jammer. The length of tackline must allow the spinnaker to fly flagging when fully released. It should be calculated based on the following: 2 x (hull + bowsprit length) + foot of your biggest spinnaker.

4. Check your spinnaker halyard

In normal conditions and when performing a classic spinnaker drop, you want to control the speed of the halyard run. One method I use to do this in my Mini Transat 6.50 is to throw the halyard overboard behind the boat, the entire length. The resistance of the water helps to control the speed and if it’s not enough or if I am in a boat where this is not really possible I put one or two turns on the winch and let it slide. This helps to add some controlled resistance. If there is too much friction, it’s easier to take turns off the winch than take control of a runaway halyard.

5. Use the lazy sheet

If the leeward spinnaker sheet is too far out and/or has too much tension on it, then use the lazy sheet! Prepare it in advance by taking it into your hand. You can start dropping the spinnaker with yourself at windward side (to keep weight to windward if needed) and move down when the spinnaker loses pressure. You may find it easier to retrieve the lazy sheet by using a boat hook.

6. Know how to use your rotating bowsprit (if you have one)

On the Mini Transat, I have a rotating bowsprit, adjusted by windward and leeward guys. In case of problems with the spinnaker, entering into broach without the opportunity to stabilize the boat or if the lower part of the spinnaker gets into the water and starts ‘fishing’, I can fully release the windward bowsprit guy and collapse my spinnaker. It is important if I do this to also fully ease the tackline and start collecting the spinnaker immediately. I then release the halyard once the tack, clew and low luff are in my hands. Dropping the bowsprit helps to decrease the pressure on the spinnaker very fast but requires doing these next steps immediately so I always have to have the halyard and tackline ready and prepared for dropping!

7. Big squall emergency tip

If you find yourself in the middle of a big squall and want to be sure that the halyard or tackline will slide out fully and release the spinnaker, remove the knots from the end of these lines and let them run. You will need to put the ropes back in place after the drop, but this simple tip will help you to save your sail.