Keeping the spinny flying through a gybe

We have a symmetric spinny with a double ended pole. Over the years we've tried several different routines, we've now settled on one that suits us. Bear in mind that the crew is a small (but perfectly formed) woman so anything that makes the pole difficult to push out will not be favoured by the boss. I also want to stay within class rules so no double pole systems or tapered sheets.

 The sequence is usually: Gybe, crew hands guy and sheet back to me to feed or tension as appropriate, crew swaps ends on the pole, I cleat the new guy in roughly the right position, I hand sheet back to crew.

We're not bad at it, it usually goes smoothly but we cannot keep the kite flying through the gybe consistently. It sometimes stays inflated but mostly doesn't.

I've watched the 2012 Olympic 470 vids, how do they do it?

Am I expecting too much or are there some tricks to this?

 

Edited by transient - 13 May 15 at 1:17pm

Here's what we used to do in the Lark years ago. Before the gybe the crew uncleats the guy and bundles up the spare sheet inside the boat, taking out all the slack. Immediately after the gybe she hands it to the helm who can now play the kite with one hand, moving it backwards and forth as required to keep it full. The crew then changes the pole over as normal, the beauty being that there is no longer any rush as the kite is being kept full by the helm. Crew then takes bundle from helm and plays kite as normal.

Might try the camera although it might be better filmed from a safety boat. I'll see if I can rope someone else in for that. From memory the kite deflates at about the same time as as the gybe, so by the time the sheet and guy are in my hands we've already lost it.

crew uncleating before the gybe.  Mmm.....I'm not sure but I think the crew already does that. Nice description though Steve. That's pretty much how we do it.

I've looked at the single ended pole several times over the years, never actually tried it though. The idea of stashing the pole before the gybe bothers me, when redeployed it's going to be on the wrong side of the boom....this just seems awkward to my mind. Perhaps we just need to try it and see, it may be easier than I imagine it.

I have a knot in the main that stops the boom touching the shroud so there is a little bit of room for the pole. It's a long pole though, 8' 3" makes it an unwieldy bugger, it'll have to be pushed out parallel with the boom I guess.

we have the pole fittings facing  down so the guy "drops" out of the hook.

Releasing the guy before removing the pole from the mast....that could be the issue. Jims idea of a video would clear that up as I can't see whats going on in front of the main.

Edited by transient - 14 May 15 at 2:09pm

Ta for that, it was partially helpful. I did check out that video a couple of days ago but it doesn't cover swapping the pole over.

As indicated by some of the posts I think this requires a step by step analysis of what the crew is doing and what I'm doing, we probably need a third person for that, either as a coach or holding a video recorder.

A collapsed kite for a few seconds isn't a major loss but it would be extremely satisfying to get it right as a team. We're getting older, what we're losing in physical endurance/agility needs to be made up with improved technique (Well, that's my theory anyway  )