Crew Positions

Crew Positions. Look here for descriptions of each position on the boat, and what each crew member should be doing to accomplish specific maneuvers during a race. There are many ways to accomplish these maneuvers, so if you have a system you feel is a good one, let us know and we'll include it here.

Helmsman
In General	Turns boat through tacks and jibes. Manuevers boat through mark roundings.
Tacking	Calls "ready to tack" to prepare crew. Calls "tacking" and begins turning the boat in coordination with genoa trimmer and main trimmer.
Windward Mark	Moves to leeward side for better visibility to drive boat around mark. Calls "3 boat lengths" ... "2 boat lengths" ... "1 boat length" ... "turning...turning...turning...on course" to aid crew in trimming sails around mark and raising spinnaker.

Main Sheet Trimmer
In General	Trims main with main sheet and traveler. Calls for trim by mast person on main outhaul, cuttingham, and boom vang. Calls and reads starting flags and race course from committee boat.
Tacking	Brings main traveler high which over trims main and helps turn the boat up to weather with minimum rudder movement. When tack is completed, brings main traveler up to trim in coordination with genoa trimmer.
Windward Mark	Eases main sheet and lowers traveler as boat rounds mark. Remains mast person to ease cunningham, outhaul, and calls adjustment on boom vang.

Genoa Trimmer
In General	Trims and tacks Genoa. Handles roller furling.
Tacking	Coordinates tacking genoa with pit person. Releases genoa sheet from low side while pit person tails new genoa sheet. Then crosses cockpit to grind new genoa wrench. Calls "80% trim....90% trim...100% trim" for helmsman. At 80% trim, genoa trimmer takes tail from pit person and grinds and tails genoa to final trim.
Windward Mark	Eases genoa as boat rounds mark. After mast person calls "halyard made" for spinnaker halyard, genoa trimmer releases tail from wrench and rolls up genoa. Moves weight to balance boat and watches behind for puffs and changing wind condition.

Pit Person
In General	Handles halyard and halyard stoppers for main, genoa, and spinnaker. Tails genoa during tacks. Trims spinnaker tack. Stores and maintains spinnaker sheet tails in cockpit. Assists from cockpit in jibing spinnaker. Handles spinnaker pole extension and retraction. Primary start timer. Autohelm and KVH Sailcomp instrument technician. Assist in spinnaker jibs and take downs.
Tacking	Pre-loads lazy genoa sheet and wench handle on wench. Tails genoa trimmer from standing in companionway. Crosses to high side after passing genoa tail to Genoa trimmer.
Windward Mark	On last leg to mark, pit person untangles the spinnaker sheets and tack line and makes them ready for use. When helmsman calls "3 boat lengths", foredeck person opens hatch and readies spinnaker for launch, pit person pre feeds spinnaker tack to end of poll. When helmsman calls"1 boat length", pit person extends poll and feeds tack to end of poll and calls "tack made". Pit person hands spinnaker sheet with appropriate winch wraps to foredeck person positioned on high side. Pit person then stands by to adjust tack line when called upon. Takes up spinnaker halyard slack through sheet stopper and cleats halyard.

Foredeck Person
In General	Places spinnaker bag on deck and connects control sheets. Primary spinnaker trimmer. Assist in spinnaker jibs and take downs.
Tacking	Assists genoa clew around mast and shrouds while crosses boat forward of mast to new high side.
Windward Mark	Packs spinnaker in bag and positions bag in hatch during pre-race preparation. Coordinates with pit person to move spinnaker sheets, tack line, and halyard to appropriate side of boat for spinnaker launch. Connect all control lines to spinnaker. When helmsman call "3 boat length", foredeck person opens hatch and prepares spinnaker for launching. When helmsman calls "2 boat lengths", foredeck person helps pit person pre-feed tack to end of poll. Foredeck person then moves back to high side and stands by to fly spinnaker.

Mast Person
In General	Trims main outhaul, Cunningham, and boom vang. Jumps main, genoa, and spinnaker halyard. Assist in spinnaker jibs and take downs.
Tacking	Crosses boat on cabin top to new high side.
Windward Mark	When helmsman calls "turning", mast person moves from high side position to mast and starts raising spinnaker halyard. When halyard mark is to mast cam cleat, mast person calls "halyard made". Eases cunningham, outhaul, and adjust boom vang to main trimmers call. Moves in position to balance boat.

	Jim Stansbury tells us like it is on J/92 "Ubiquitous".
	Jeff Johnstone gives us his ideas at the J/105 Class site. (You'll have to scroll down a bit...)
	Your ideas go here...
	Or here!