The Paccific Cup is popular is a downwind race, where sailors get to fly spinnakers. Our time to launch a spinnaker came yesterday morning. We tried to launch the S4 yesterday but it did not go according to plan. The S4 is a smaller symmetrical spinnaker made of one and a half ounce material for heavy weather. We knew it would be a challenge to control once we got it up, because of the wild and rather confused sea state, but we wanted this sail so we could sail a heading more directly toward Hawaii. We took our time in preparing to launch the S4, as it has many moving parts, guys and sheets, and a pole. We set up deliberately for a starboard pole, where the spinnaker itself is set on the port, or left side of the bow. With just three crew, each crew has a crucial role to perform; one must drive, one run the lines from the cockpit, and one run the mast and bow. So, Megan was driving, Tom was in the cockpit, and David was on the bow.
We started to hoist the sail, which should be done quickly, and awhjen about half of the sail was up, the halyard got struck, and we could all see that the sail bag was lifted off the deck, tangled up with the jib sheets. David had to stop hoisting, and go over to try to free the sail bag. But in the instant between freeing the line from the bag, and jumping back to tart hoisting again, the spinnaker collapsed and fell into the water. Once this happened, the boat stopped moving, and the rest of the sail was dragged into the water, along with all the lines.
In an instant, everything had changed, and the sail had become a sea anchor. We tried to pull it back into the boat, but the lines were all under great tension, so we considered if we would need to cut them. I keep a big knife in the cockpit for emergencies like this, but I did not want to use it yet. The boat was not in danger, and we needed the halyard, sheets and guys to sail to Hawaii. I noticed that between the boat and the new sea anchor, there were moments where the lines relaxed slightly between waves, and I called for us to all pull the lines during those moments. Slowly but surely, hand over hand, the sail started to come to the boat. Firsst we pulled the lines, and then we were able to get our hands on sail and pull it, foot by foot, back onto the boat. We finally got all of it back onboard. We disconnected the lines and gear, and examined the sail. It was ripped and useless, beyond repair. I remembered that this was the spinnaker that Megan and I had first flown together, but I decided to donate it to the ocean, and we threw it overboard and got the boat moving again, under the main sail alone.
We started debating the our options. Avion carries five spinnakers and three jibs, so we still had plenty of choices. We settled on a sail plan with the lowest center of effort, a poled-out jib top, with one reef in the main. The jib top was already on deck, so we set it up the pole, and quickly raised the jib top. The boat immediately started moving 3 knots faster, and she stabilized as her keel dug deep into the water. We had survived a dangerous situation and the only loss was a sail that cost $2,000. Oh well, we were underway again, and that was all the mattered. We could sail at an average of 7 knots for the next four or five days, depending upon the wind.
Stay tuned. More to come.
Please excuse any typos, this was written while underway.
Tom
avionbianca 
What a great recovery. I lost an asymmetrical over the side once as well. It also jammed on the way up but it was nearshore sailing and the wind was light. The only damage was to my ego, as others were watching. I look forward to these emails every day.
Sorry for the loss of S4 but happy to hear all survived the incident- Wish i was there to assist so with this thought be careful out there and keep safety as first priority! Do you have a strategy to close the gap?
Be careful, but aggressive at every opportunity and don’t screw around with tropical storms, i want to see the Avion lounging listlessly about the islands when i come join you guys! Love you and Good Sailing!
Michael