A Gybe is a sailing maneuver used to change a boat’s direction where the stern crosses through the wind. The process might look a little daunting on a Melges 15—having to juggle both a jib and spinnaker—but it actually breaks down quite simply. Follow these steps and practice to master a smooth and fast gybe.
Gybing Steps:
The helmsmen will have control of the boat’s steering and mainsail while the crew will control the jib and spinnaker.
Start with the crew cleating the weather jib sheet.
The skipper will then start to steer into the gybe.
When the boom starts to cross, the crew will start trimming in the spinnaker so the foot of the sail is nearly flat. This will allow the spinnaker to backwind and help push the sail over to the other side.
As the boom crosses over the center of the boat, both skipper and crew will move themselves to the other, new high side, of the boat.
During step 4, the crew will release the old weather spinnaker sheet and start to trim in the new one. If timed well, the wind will blow the spinnaker over to its new side without tangling or any other issues.
The boat should now finish its gybe and start sailing on its new heading.
Once successfully on the new heading, the crew should move the jib over. The crew will release the cleated jib sheet, which will be right next to them, grab the continuous jib sheet, and trim the jib to the new weather side of the boat.
Lastly the skipper should check their main sail and adjust the trim as needed.
Gybing Tips & Tricks:
Get the gybe speed just right - Whipping a Melges 15 through a gybe too quickly can cause a violent and dangerous gybe. But don’t go too slow either, to avoid loosing momentum and collapsing and tangling your spinnaker. You should use the force of the wind to help you through this step.
Don’t ease your main sheet - Bring your main sheet in, if not all the way in. This will help your boom cross over and give you a stable gybe.
Watch this detailed video guide on Melges 15 gybes narrated by Melges Performance Sailboat’s Eddie Cox:
Want to learn more about the M15? Want to demo an M15? Contact Richard Allen or 180 Marine—authorized Rocky Mountain Melges Dealer for Melges 14, 15, 20, and 24 at richard@180marine.com.
