Mexican douse

What is a Mexican douse?

In a big regatta this summer on Lake Leman, about half the boats would approach the leeward mark on a starboard broad reach. This would give them priority over the boats approaching from port. However, the disadvantage is that they had a more tricky manoeuvre to remove the spi pole, fly the spi without it, "douse" the spi at the mark and then jibe round the mark. You are also dousing the spi so it's on the correct side for the next weather mark. This is called the "Mexican douse". For the boats approaching on port, it is simpler as they remove the pole, unfurl the genoa, douse the spi and simply luff up to get round the mark - but will have to give priority to starboard approaching boats.

Courtesy: Schlaeger, Flickr

Why Mexican douse? Apparently, the America's Cup team were practising it and the skipper said that it the crew didn't get the spi down soon, they would end up in Mexico. Another version is that they were pointing towards Mexico.

Notes on how to do it

Last Sunday, two Surprises had a training to learn the Mexican douse. Each boat was manned by two crew making the trip a steeping learning experience, given the Bft 3 conditions.

Helen kindly sent round notes on how to do the douse (courtesy of Philip M). Here they are:

This description assumes we have 5 crew members aboard:
1. No. 1 ("Bowman")
2. Piano ("Pit")
3. Headsail trimmer
4. Tactician (who becomes the "squirrel" during the douse)
5. Helmsman

Jib out. ~10 boatlengths from the leeward mark, depending on speed and crew ability. The tactician initiates the manoeuver by unfurling the jib and trimming it inside the lifelines/pulpit. The tactician handles this because the trimmer is paying close attention to the spinnaker.

Pole down. ~5 boatlengths. The tactician calls for the stowing of the pole. The piano and bowman coordinate the topping lift, downhaul, and stowing of the pole on the boom (or in the cabin). The topping lift and downhaul can be left on the pole if it can be stowed on the boom. The trimmer keeps the sail aloft and trimmed. The tactician and helm are keeping watch for priority issues as the mark draws nearer.

Gybe. The squirrel heads below deck. The helmsman turns the boat around the mark at a rate that is within the capabilities of the crew. The goal is to have a gradual turn, but to round the mark tightly so there is little room between the windward side of the boat and the mark. The piano gybes the jib just before preparing to lower the spinnaker halyard.

Douse. During the gybe, the spinnaker will collapse against the jib. The piano lowers the halyard by about a meter as this happens. The trimmer watches the bowman, and releases the sheet and guy, so the bowman can feed the foot of the sail to the squirrel in the forward hatch. Once the foot is under control, the piano releases the halyard as quickly as possible while the squirrel gathers the sail. The trimmer resumes his position at the jib, and trims to close-hauled.

A video clip of a Santana 35 performing the manoeuver. It's not too different from ours besides the fact that they have 8 crew members, and a pole that stows on the mast:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXOi9fUYfVc