Where to drop the kite

in the chute or bag

Well in the video they have a leeward gate so the reaching across is to get them to their favoured side for the next upwind leg. Also, a 49er is rapid on a 2 sail reach, so they haven't really lost as much as you would in a slower boat if you were to drop off the plane.

We always try and drop as late as possible so that you are ready for upwind soon enough to get a good tight rounding and hold your lane out of the mark. Getting the crew back out on the wire and the boat moving right away is much more important than tidying the kite sheets. This can be done later once you are settled on the new point of sail. Judging when to drop obviously comes with practise, too early and you lose speed downwind, too late and you muck up your rounding. I would suggest that dropping early is quicker whilst you are improving. Making sure your systems all run smoothly is also good as it gives you massive confidence, there is nothing more demoralising than having a big snag and trawling with the kite whilst all the boats you overtook just sail over the top of you again.

I always have a nightmare with kite sheets and halyards being everywhere in the boat, but a lot of other boats in the fleet have bungee systems which tidy the sheets when the kite is down. Might be worth looking into this so that it saves your good lady a job ;-)

If you haven't seen 'Higher and Faster', it is well worth a look as they run through lots of options on all points of sail, allbeit in newer more modern boats but you will still find most of it applicable. I think there was another video shot years ago shot in 4k's but not sure of the name!

The one shot in 4/5k's was called high performance sailing. I may still have it on video somewhere at my parents house.

Originally posted by Skiffybob Not in the water, is a good start

Not on top of the mark is a good option too...

More seriously its better to two sail to the mark than run to the mark after the kite drop, so I prefer to end that way. Also if you look like ending up below the mark its better to drop early and two sail at full speed to the mark than struggle with the oat on its ear to get there with the rag up.

Originally posted by asterix does anyone have a ratchet in their kite halyard system to stop it dropping in the water as soon as you uncleat the uphaul?

The helmsman's foot usually performs that function, whilst at the same time he will be denying he's got his foot on anything...