[splitmind]

A few tips we have after learning from our mistakes...

-Make sure your sheets are at least twice as long as your boats overall length.

-Consider the use of floating polypropolene sheets. (You will make mistakes, this keeps the sheets away from your prop and keel.)

-Use your mainsail when first raising the sail, and dousing. It acts like a bit of a wind blocker as you pull the sail in making it easier to handle on deck. Make sure your helmsman is aware of the gybe risks as they will be more interested in the what deck hand is dong then steering the first time.

-Our gennaker sails well from a beam to a broad reach without a pole. Our sail is quite large and we don''t use it above 10 kts of wind. First day 4-8kts is ideal.

-When gybing let the sheets run forward before yanking them back to prevent a snag, or even better, simply douse the sock and walk it around.

Have fun...