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Squall Drill — 30/20/10 Ladder Rehearsal

Drilled by: All crew. Watch Captain leads. Skipper observes and confirms. Frequency: ×1 in race week. Explicit Skipper or Watch Captain sign-off required at completion. Time box: 60 minutes (briefing + execution + debrief + sign-off).

TL;DR

  • Objective: every crew member knows their role at each rung (30 / 20 / 10 nm) without looking it up.
  • Pass criteria: all crew correctly respond to verbal rung calls; Skipper or WC signs off in writing.
  • Without sign-off, all rungs collapse to the conservative 30-nm branch for the race (per crew_orientation.md — Squall Protocol).
  • Card 09 is the canonical procedure. This drill confirms every crew member can execute it on a verbal call.

Setup

  • Boat sailing with full sail plan (A2-1 or Code 67 + main; mid-range trim ideal)
  • All crew in normal watch positions (on deck or below)
  • WC briefs: "Squall drill — I will call rung announcements; execute your role; we run the full ladder plus post-squall cleanup."
  • Skipper observes and takes notes for sign-off.

Procedure

Phase 1 — 30 nm rung

WC announces: "Squall drill — 30 nm echo, W-NW, drill mode active."

  • [ ] Off-watch crew: notified by WC; alert but not yet up
  • [ ] On-watch crew: prepare for kite douse if flying
  • [ ] Pit: confirm reef #1 pre-rigged in mast
  • [ ] Bow: foul-weather gear on; harness/tether ready
  • [ ] All on-deck: tethers visible and accessible
  • [ ] If kite flying: begin douse sequence (per Card 09 — 30 nm echo detected)

Phase 2 — 20 nm rung

WC announces: "20 nm echo, drill mode active. Kite down. Reef #1 in."

  • [ ] Pit + Bow + Trim: execute kite-down sequence cleanly
  • [ ] After kite contained: execute reef #1 in (per pit_playbook — Reef #1 in (rams-horn sequence))
  • [ ] All on-deck crew clipped in — verify each tether physically
  • [ ] Headsail change to smaller (J3 → J4) if at crossover

Phase 3 — 10 nm rung

WC announces: "10 nm echo or lightning visible, drill mode active. All hands."

  • [ ] All non-watch crew called up
  • [ ] Hatches closed
  • [ ] Skipper woken (if not already on deck)
  • [ ] Confirm authority chain: Skipper has the call if on deck; WC has full authority if not
  • [ ] Helm: ready to bear away on contact

Phase 4 — Simulated contact + post-squall

WC announces: "Squall contact, 30 kt gust, drill mode."

  • [ ] All hands brace
  • [ ] Helm bears away to keep wind aft
  • [ ] Main: traveler eased; sheet eased in gust
  • [ ] No sail changes during simulated gust

WC announces: "Squall passing — 20 minute wait begins."

  • [ ] All crew remain in position
  • [ ] Watch radar for trailing cell (verbal: "checking radar")
  • [ ] After 20 minutes: WC calls "cell clear; assess; set up methodically"
  • [ ] Reef off, then headsail up, then kite decision (per Card 09 — Post-squall)

Pass Criteria

  • [ ] Every crew member identified their role at each rung without prompting
  • [ ] Kite-down sequence executed cleanly (no flogged sail, no halyard wrap)
  • [ ] Reef #1 in completed per rams-horn sequence (reefing line tensioned BEFORE halyard re-tensioned)
  • [ ] All tethers physically verified at 20-nm rung
  • [ ] Hatches closed at 10-nm rung
  • [ ] No counter-suggestions during drill
  • [ ] Post-squall 20-minute wait honored
  • [ ] Skipper or WC signs off in writing

Skipper / WC Sign-off

Squall drill executed on ___________ (date):
[ ] Passed — primary trigger: 20 nm inside Stream / 30 nm pre-Stream
[ ] Partial pass — re-drill scheduled: ___________
[ ] Did not complete — conservative 30-nm branch applies everywhere

Signed: ___________________ (Skipper or Watch Captain)
Date:   ___________________

Common Failures

Failure Root cause Fix
Crew needs prompt at rung Hasn't internalized Card 09 Re-read Card 09 + crew_orientation — Squall Protocol; re-drill
Counter-suggestion during drill Single-voice rule not internalized Skipper re-briefs; re-test
Reef #1 cringle pops off rams-horn Reefing line not tensioned before halyard re-tension Pit reviews pit_playbook — Reef #1 in; re-drill
Tether physical-verify skipped Assumed "everyone has them" Physical check by hand is non-negotiable; re-drill
Early re-hoist after squall Impatience 20-min wait is a hard rule per Card 09; re-brief

Cross-references