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Basics

-What does bowman do?

At the Line

-Calling the line
-Keep clear
-Timing
-Communication

Windward Mark

Starboard approach
-Bearaway set
-Jibe set

Port approach
-Bearaway set
-Jibeset (acrobatics)

Jibing

-Rule of Thumb

Leeward Mark

-Leeward douse
-Windward douse
-Mexican takedown
-Stretch and Blow

Peels

Jib peel
-Inside
-Outside

Spinnaker
-Dip pole
-HOT WIRE

Climbing

Sometimes you can see bowman standing on the pointy end, yelling and giving hand signals that remind of New York stock exchange broker or football player on time out. Those hand signals extend communication between Bow and Helm as sometimes weather conditions unable clear verbal communication on the boat. It is important that every boat establishes their own sign language, sit down with your crew and agree on one way to show "Go down", "Go up", "Ease", "Hold", etc. There is a set of commonly used hand signals, but of course you are free to invent your own. Be careful doing this because your new finger signals may offend some people.

Standards for the bowman are: Thumb up -Go up, Thumb down-Go down, Fist-Hold.

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