Spin mishaps

Here is a copy of a short Facebook post from Quantum Sails that describes some common mishaps handling an asymmetric spinnaker. Thought this might be instructive!

"Mastering spinnaker work means knowing how to prevent and recover from common mishaps!
Here's three of the most common ones:

  Shrimping: This happens when the tack ends up in the water, slowing you down. Prevent it by keeping the tack line free of knots and holding the foot clear during a douse. If it happens, stop the douse, blow the tack line, and re-hoist to drain water before pulling the sail onboard.

  Hourglass Twists: These pesky twists occur when the leech catches swirling air off the main. Prevent them by packing the kite cleanly and keeping slack out of the sheet during hoists. If a twist forms, stop the hoist immediately, pull the clew outward, and work the foot until the twist clears—lowering the halyard if needed.

  Forestay Wraps: Often caused by a leeward collapse, wraps can wreak havoc. Prevent them by trimming the active sheet to keep the spinnaker blowing back through the foretriangle. To recover, over-sheet the main or gybe to reverse airflow and unwrap the sail.

Preparation, practice and quick action are key."