How to avoid a Chinese gybe when sailing downwind

[@tomriley5790]

Very impressed with the "controlled" chinese gype - for the camera! Doing all that solo whilst racing must be crazy.

[@muranichanain6027]

Makes it look SOOO simple!

[@rayharkins14]

So much to learn and remember. I thought you just put the sails up and kicked back relaxing while the wind did the rest. This sailing when done properly and be exhaustive. thanks for the videos...

[@panther105]

I'm just beginning to learn how to sail. Seeing the boat lean into the wind just looks so weird. So much to learn... These are very useful short videos...

[@00BillyTorontoBill]

remember the 6 ranges of movement.. and its all balanced against itself/

[@Coyotehello]

The best advice I received when I started sailing (or actually racing) was to 'keep the boat under the spi -we call it a kite_'. once you master that then you can 'push' the limit by trimming for speed while instinctively knowing how to get back in the safe zone.

[@ShroomKeppie]

Nice lesson. Did have to chuckle a bit when she said "...caused by excess heel to windward, or excess heel to leeward..." Yep, I guess that covers it! ;-)

[@SalsaBro]

I noticed that too.. only so many options for heeling over haha

[@brucesinclair2981]

I mainly only sail single handed, when I do I drop the main and sail spinaker only. This makes it so simple, one sail to look after. No possiblity of a gybe, or damage to the yacht.

[@bobgaysummerland]

My fix has always been to leave the spinnaker below decks in a nice bad. They make a great mattress.

[@billbogg3857]

Very good explanation . Thanks

[@solidinfinitygym]

Would be very useful to also explain how to steer the boat under the kite.

[@mordecaiirony3145]

What it comes down to in higher winds is the spinnaker trimmer has more control over boat steerage than the driver. With a properly experienced crew, the drivers job is fairly easy in getting the boat down a wave for speed. Other factors involve the actual rudder design and how round the hull is. If the hull is fairly round the boat is more prone to rolling, making the drivers job a bit on the nervous side. Spade rudders also have limitations in higher winds/waves. I have remedied this limitation on a notoriously squirrely Cal 31 by augmenting the leading edge of its spade rudder .. now, even on a close reach, with the spinnaker up the boat drives like a Porsche with power steering in 15+ knots of breeze.

[@thething4763]

The term Chinese Gybe comes from the Chinese sailing vessels called "Junks" The way these boats where rigged made them very prone to this unexpected maneuver, hence the "common" term "Chinese Gybe". The difference between a Chinese Gybe and a broach is that instead of the boat being dragged to lee as with the Chinese gybe, there is sudden shift in the wind direction that backsides the sails, the main boom and foresail (spinnaker or not) go crashing to the opposite tac under high power and yank the stern of the boat out of the water entirely. This would be considered an extreme accidental gybe. (which results in a broach) and usually the lose of the mast if the winds are high enough.

[@Iz0pen]

Also racism

[@danielmay7107]

Only one thing I didn't understand. I though pulling the kicker during downwind sailing depoweres the main, not powers it? Or is this a special case because the main goes all floppy when the boat turns to port on it's own?

[@davidm203]

The idea is that the flatter the sail less power it has. tightening the boom vang (kicker) flattens the sail. It makes sense. The more bellied a sail the more wind it can grab which increases its power. This was from 4 years ago and you posted a month ago so maybe you will see this reply.

[@anynamey]

@@davidm203 If he doesn't see it, it's still a good reply and appreciated. Thanks 🤙

[@nicdoig6031]

@@davidm203 The opposite is true, the video is correct. Easing the “kicker” (vang) de-powers the main in the first instance by letting the boom rise, releasing pressure. If further de-powering is required the main sheet can be eased.

[@joestevenson5568]

@@davidm203 The outhaul flattens the sail. The kicker reduces twist and stops the roach spilling air. It flattens things slightly, but thats not why you use it.

[@mbur5099]

Remarkably good production for a 10 year old video!

[@aeastman59]

is "chinese" gybe an "unexpected" gybe?

[@pauljnolan1000]

I am surprised at the lack of emphasis on spinnaker trim. When you're running in heavy air DO NOT ease the spinnaker sheet to the point that the 'chute is to weather of the forestay. Keep it strapped in. In heavy air the centerline of the 'chute should always be to leeward of the forestay. This is especially important in IOR boats with their narrow sterns. In modern boats for peaceful downwind sleighrides put a dinghy sailor on the helm and a smart, very conservative crewman on the spinnaker sheet.

[@louisgjordan2]

OK, now that i've learned some vocab, it makes more sense, but, does this also work to correct excessive weather helm. Isn't excessive weather helm what caused you to go into the XXXXese jybe?

[@fireman19681]

actually, its excessive lee helm that causes a Chinese jibe

[@levipartridge2790]

***** err lol the ways to spell gybe, the correct way to spell it is gybe, but it can be spelled other ways, they are no more or less correct but if you spell it gybe then people are more likely to know what you are talking about, written down, because saying it they all sound the same, I think, I'm not aware of jibing or gibing or jybing as being anything different, just another way of spelling, but I could be wrong, I don't know, I'm not great at sailing terminology

[@josephwalker67]

***** Of course the Chinese do. Just like Russian submariners perform Crazy Ivans.

[@neilirvine7129]

Feel free to call it a "crash gybe"

[@captmack007]

lifes a reach, then you Jibe

[@Valkyrie11609]

There is a world of wisdom in that statement!

[@micsuntung1]

why Chinese gybe, not XXXXese gybe

[@maggieandjim1934]

because it is called a chinese gybe

[@eierkuchen001]

forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?/topic/165073-what-is-a-chinese-gybe/ nobody knows... maybe to give those communists a bad reputation?

[@TroyaE117]

You can do all that with a crew of 6. Avoid spinnakers if you don't have a big crew. In light airs, perhaps, otherwise they are bad news.

[@briane173]

That's never stopped these folks: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5bHY5eBfa2shcU

[@louisgjordan2]

pull the kicker on? You mean my shoe? ease the mainsail? um..what?

[@russbrookshire9259]

Kicker (British) = Boomvang (American)

[@mordecaiirony3145]

I like Boom Kicker ;) (NorCal)

[@earlofwickshire5416]

Now only if they had a video on how to avoid a Chinese driver!

[@sp10sn]

I never buy Chinese, even a gybe.

[@andybrands1883]

Combination satay boiled rice !!!! Get in there sp ¬!!

[@ThompsonBMXbikes]

Not to be confused with a Chinese Fire Drill.

[@TroyaE117]

The spinnaker is very much a racing sail, or light air cruising sail. It is unforgiving. Avoid it unless in light airs or with a big crew in a race.

[@russellcole3549]

We need to find something to call this other than a "Chinese" jibe, which, much like a "Chinese" fire drill, is insulting to Chinese, if you think about it. Let's call it an American jibe, or, what I always heard it called, an uncontrolled jibe. What? Heading up into a broach makes it "Chinese?" Russ, Long Beach, California

[@Valkyrie11609]

We need to keep calling it what it is. The name didn't fall out of the sky. It's called that for a very particular reason. But I am curious... According to what you wrote, calling it "Chinese" is insulting. Right? So... why would calling it an "American" be any different?? (Other than it actually not being accurate...) Just trying to following your logic here.

[@joestevenson5568]

Its because traditional Chinese boats are prone to it.

[@pipes0987]

I'm offended by the term "Kentucky fried chicken" though I have never been to Kentucky, because I have way too much time on my hands.

[@thekeytothegate]

Seems simple enough. Lol