The drop is an easy manoeuvre
to carry out but is a difficult one to get right every time.
It relies on judging distances, speeds
and angles.
Drop too early and you approach the leeward
mark slow with no kite. Too late and you will overshoot
with your kite flapping.
If you approach the mark from too high
an angle you will be running in. Again the boat will slow.
If you approach from too tight a reach the drop will be
difficult and will have to be early to get up to the mark.
The crew needs to get into the centre
of the boat. Take a little slack out of the kite downhaul
then blow the halyard cleat and pull the kite down hand
over hand.
The helm rounds the mark on the
wire. The crew sheets the jib and jumps out on the wire
straight after the mark. He then sets the kicker for the
beat.
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