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CREWING A FLYING DUTCHMAN

by Hugh Myers.

For the most part, crewing in an FD is little different to any other trapeze dinghy. However, there are one or two things about an FD which call for some slightly different techniques which may not be immediately apparent to a newcomer. In particular these are the sheer size of the genoa and the continuous trapeze system.

The two are somewhat connected, in that the continuous trapeze makes dealing with the great length of the genoa sheets much more practical than with the more conventional trapeze systems.

The main difficulties encountered in the front end of the FD are uncleating the genoa under load, avoiding getting the genoa sheets back in the cleat accidentally during a tack, and getting on and off the continuous trapeze successfully during a tack or gybe.

All FD crews have their own ways of dealing with these problems, and I would certainly never claim mine to be the best or to be perfect but maybe they will help someone to get round the course better than they do now!

Continuous Trapeze:
There are two main problems encountered with the continuous trapeze:

1. Not getting on to the hook properly, when going out. i.e. going out with your weight on the elastic. SPLOSH!

2. Not getting free of the old hook as you go into a tack or a gybe. Most embarrassing in gybes as the boom and leeward trapeze wire will propel you to leeward navel first!

The continuous trapeze works best when you are trapezing low because your weight comes off the trapeze hook easily when you are in the boat during a tack or gybe. This makes it least likely that you will suffer from problem 2 and will give you a sporting chance of avoiding problem 1 as well.

Of course, the trend in trapezing in other boats these days is to stay higher and this does allow you to move in and out of the boat very smoothly. I suggest that you need to do this in FD's too in light airs but then you can watch out carefully on the tacks and gybes and ensure that you do not get caught up or go out on the elastic.

Coming in - as with most trapeze boats, you want to come in back leg first, sheet in hand, front hand on the handle or trapeze hook. When tacking, once your weight is on the deck, tip the trapeze hook down with your front hand to ensure that the gear disconnects properly.

On the gybe it is always worth pushing the middle of the continuous trapeze elastic down whilst in the boat, to ensure that you have not got stuck on the old windward hook.

Going out- ensure that your weight goes on to the hook properly before you commit yourself! This can feel a bit like dropping deep over the side of the boat, if you are trapezing low, but it does ensure that you do not get dropped in the drink!

In light airs, of course, it is easier going in and out and balancing the boat with the trapeze higher. However, do not forget that this does prevent the trapeze changing sides so smoothly, you just have to keep an eye on things. Just top the old windward trapeze hook down with your forward hand once you are on the deck, do not get too low or too far adrift in the boat during the tack and check that the trapeze gear comes across with you and slips on to the hook on the new side.

Height Adjustment With the event of genoas with multiple clews it becomes quite common to have height adjustment both above and below the continuous trapeze system. Use the adjustment above the hooks to put the trapeze gear at the right height above the deck for the clew position you are using at the time. Use the adjustment that is between the slider and your harness to adjust your height on the way around the course i.e. vary low for flat out trapezing to windward, higher for downwind so that you can move your weight around easily and stay clear of the water, and higher also for light airs so that you can move in and out more smoothly.

I usually adjust things so that the hook and elastic are about 14-15 inches above the deck. By trial and error you will find out what works best for you.

Uncleat the Genoa!
The fastest way to capsize and FD is to tack with the genoa sheet in the cleat! I know, I've done it lots of times! It is really important, therefore, to be sure that you get the sheet uncleated and do not accidentally put it back in the clear during the tack.

It is quite difficult to uncleat the genoa whilst it is fully loaded up. The most common way is to use the weight of the sheet to flick it out of the cleat whilst you are still on the trapeze. If you miss that chance, you may have trouble until the loads comes off the sail as the boat comes head to wind.

The safest technique, therefore, it to keep the fall of the sheet ahead of your feet, flick the sheet to uncleat whilst still out on the wire and then release the sheet completely on to the on to the double bottom forward of your feet as or before you come in off the trapeze. THEN...

Sheet In
Pick up the sheet again as you cross the boat to start pulling the genoa in on the new tack. Get the sail most of the way in as the boat comes round on to the course and then get out on the trapeze as the load comes on. You should just have about a foot of sheet to finally pull in and trim once you are on the trapeze, and you then have the luxury of having your legs to help with the last pull!

Some extra tips:
Do not forget, even in the heat of the moment, that most FD genoa cleats undo with a downwards flick, NOT upward like a conventional dinghy. These upside down cleats do mean that it is very easy for the sheet to recleat itself during a tack if you hold the sheet in you hand as you come in off the wire. Safest thing is to uncleat, let go of the sheet, and then come in. Keeping the fall of the genoa sheets ahead of your feet will reduce the chances of your "stepping into the sheets" and getting yourself and the sheets tangled with the usual consequences!

If your boat is fitted with ratchet blocks on the genoa sheets, turn them OFF! They do not allow the sheets to run out quickly and smoothly enough during the tacks. Get them on the spinnaker though, especially with the new spinnaker!

Return to FD Home page at www.sailfd.org

HUGH MYERS

Hugh is well known to many sailors around the world. He has sailed an FD since 1978 as both crew and helm. Prior to that he helmed a 470 for several years. He crewed for many top Olympic FD sailors and has competed in numerous international FD regattas and championships. This article was written in 1993 for the FD Class Manual.