Tips on Avoiding a PitchpoleBy StewKeep the mast raked back as far as possible. Have at least the crew on the wire standing behind the skipper with his aft foot resting on the edge of the hull lip or top of rudder casting. My crew uses the Hawaiian righting line as a chicken line to prevent him from getting thrown forward. As long as he doesn't get thrown forward there is almost no chance that the boat will completely pitch pole over. The boat may come to an abrupt stop, but if the jib is snapped loose, the bow will come right back up any your off and flying again. Many times that I have pitch poled, it was because the crew swung forward and his trapeze wire pulled the boat over with his weight. If you sail according the Jack Sammons, Welcome to A Fleet, technique of having your leeward bow just 3 inches out of the water, you will always be on the edge of pitch poling , but knowing how to react will prevent a total cart wheeling and in fact give you a brief rest unless you happen to be in a race. Stew |
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