The spinnaker peel is a manoeuvre in sailing that poses a unique set of challenges for the crew, demanding precision, coordination, and quick decision-making. This intricate task involves replacing one spinnaker with another while the boat is in full sail, typically during a downwind leg of a race. The old spinnaker will be "peeled" once the new one is flying.
Firstly, timing is critical during a spinnaker peel. The crew must execute the manoeuvre at the optimal moment to maintain boat speed and momentum. A mistimed peel can result in a loss of valuable minutes, allowing competitors to gain an advantage.
Secondly, the complexity of handling the spinnaker itself adds to the challenge. Spinnakers are large, delicate sails that catch the wind efficiently, but their size also makes them susceptible to tangling and flaring. Several tonnes of load are on the halyards and sheets, which require careful handling. Coordinating two spinnakers' release, retrieval, and hoisting demands seamless teamwork and communication among the crew members.
But watch yourself and see how Team Qingdao did it on a Clipper 70.
After the sail came down, we needed to undo the sheets from the clew, which was a mission itself. The bowline was so tight that even my marlin spike bent. But luckily, Remi Houel stepped in after 15 minutes of watching us break our fingers and try to open the bowl line.
Please watch the following Video on how Remi opened the knot, followed by a short interview with Jo & Andrew explaining their gally duty and who is the real chef.
The Video was taken on the 26th of November 2023
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