Asymmetrical spinnaker sheets catch on bow pulpit.

[Hayden Watson]

I typically set my Asymmetrical spinnaker sheets to do an outside gybe with the lazy sheet going outside the spinnaker and they lay over the top of the anchor. Most if the time, the gybe is

no problem with the sail flagging out in front of the boat and then pulled in on the new side. Every once in a while, the sheet will catch on running light on the bow pulpit.
Any ideas what I might do to prevent the line from catching on the light?

 

[jssailem]

Move the Bow Light? 2 lights on the deck away from trouble?

 

[Davidasailor26]

I have the same problem. I try to be careful to have the lazy sheet laying away from everything before the gybe, but still sometimes it finds its way back. Years ago jackdaw suggested adding a small batten to the luff of the spinnaker so the sheet could lay on that and be held up. Seems like an interesting idea but I haven’t tried it.

 

[Sailfanatic]

Since your sail is tacked aft of the stemhead, you might consider reverting to jibing inside the foretriangle, rather than outside. You would need to consider the location of the spinnaker halyard mast head exit relative to inside jibing (or outside for that matter)..

See

 

[Hayden Watson]

Since your sail is tacked aft of the stemhead, you might consider reverting to jibing inside the foretriangle, rather than outside. You would need to consider the location of the spinnaker halyard mast head exit relative to inside jibing (or outside for that matter)..

See

My A-sail is tacked outside of the forestay on the end of the anchor roller on the end of the bow sprit. At the mast head, I have a spinnaker crane that puts the halyard block about 4" forward of the forestay.
I have set up for inside gybes when buoy racing with sufficient crew but prefer the outside for sailing with a short crew because it does not need anyone on the foredeck to help the clew come across. When it does hang up on the light, I need to send someone forward to clear it but like I said, that doesn't happen every time.

 

[jviss]

Well, you could move the light - go to separate port and starboard lights mounted on the toerail or such; or have stainless guards welded into the bow pulpit. The former would probably be cheaper.

 

[Hayden Watson]

I have the same problem. I try to be careful to have the lazy sheet laying away from everything before the gybe, but still sometimes it finds its way back. Years ago jackdaw suggested adding a small batten to the luff of the spinnaker so the sheet could lay on that and be held up. Seems like an interesting idea but I haven’t tried it.

I did add the batten to the luff and it works (sort of) but still does not prevent the lassoing of the bow light. That happens after the spin has flagged out in front and as the new sheet is being pulled in. I suspect that it might be caused by pulling on the line too soon. One thing I have thought about is to make a couple of small soft shackles that are sized to run between the ears of my Mantus anchor and the pulpit at the bow light. The problem with that idea is that it might make it more likely that the new lazy sheet would not get captured on the bow and would drop into the water and under the boat. This currently happens occasionally and I just release it, pull it back aboard and re-run the line. Usually the new lazy sheet drops onto the anchor and then I go forward and hang it on the batten.

 

[All U Get]

So you need some stainless cage around the lights to keep the line from hanging up on the lights. Bend a length of tubing to match the pulpit and attach it so it’s below the lights.

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

A taught piece of 1/8” Dyneema from the top of the light mount to the forward end of the anchor roller might just work.

 

[Joe]

Tape a length of batten or a stick to the top of the light case so it extends out in front of the pulpit a foot or two. Hopefully, this will keep the lazy sheet from dropping down. It's important that you keep the lazy one under tension as you pull on the new sheet to get the clew to pass next to the forestay (inside, rather than outside the floating sail) and to maintain enough tension on the lazy sheet as you keep bringing the sail around. Although I don't have your particular running light set up, the sheet can get snagged under the anchor roller, so problem is similar and I taped the stick to the bow pulpit. No more problems.

I used to let the spin fly out front.... but after watching a number of YouTube vids on gybing an asym... especially the racing series on J-105's... it's very clear than non of the racing crews do it that way. The will have the foredeck crew simply reach up and pull the new sheet around the forestay.... effectively bringing the clew "inside" the sail rather that outside... but it was also obvious that a crew in the cockpit kept enough tension on the lazy sheet to keep it from dropping down and getting snagged on the anchor roller.
Anyway, you might give the inside method a try first..... then try adding the stick as insurance against the sheet dropping down below the pulpit. Good luck.

Oh, and I forgot to add, adding a bowsprit can make everything work so much better. One of the days, perhaps. (sigh)

 

[jssailem]

Just like boys... Lines will be lines... If they can get in trouble and get caught on something, they will get in trouble. Especially if they are loose and allowed to be free.

The challenge is to secure the area of the bow from items that might snag a line, yet have all the conveniences (nav lights, anchor rollers, anchors etc.) with their sharp points and protuberances from getting in the way.

One idea is before you begin the gybe evolution, that you draw up the lazy sheet, affirming that it is free and fair lead. You may discover that the sheet is already fouled. Best to know before you begin the gybe.

 

[Hayden Watson]

Just like boys... Lines will be lines... If they can get in trouble and get caught on something, they will get in trouble. Especially if they are loose and allowed to be free.

The challenge is to secure the area of the bow from items that might snag a line, yet have all the conveniences (nav lights, anchor rollers, anchors etc.) with their sharp points and protuberances from getting in the way.

One idea is before you begin the gybe evolution, that you draw up the lazy sheet, affirming that it is free and fair lead. You may discover that the sheet is already fouled. Best to know before you begin the gybe.

I cannot remember if we got this snag when you raced in the RWR on Papillon. It is never snagged before the gybe. It only occurs when the sail is flagging out in front. I think that it probably happens mostly from pulling too soon rather than too late.

 

[thinwater]

Just remember that you need foredeck crew unless the boat is faster than the wind. Also, in a breeze the risk of a wrap goes up.

Another nice thing about multis; outside jibes are easy and safe. No snags, no getting the sheets caught on the pulpit, stem, or god forbid, under the boat.

 

[jssailem]

Not sure we had a gybe during the RWR.. I believe we used your Spinnaker on the run from the start to Partridge Point. Once we turned up into Admiralty Inlet we ran the Genoa.

 

[Hayden Watson]

Not sure we had a gybe during the RWR.. I believe we used your Spinnaker on the run from the start to Partridge Point. Once we turned up into Admiralty Inlet we ran the Genoa.

Rhumb line was close to DDW all the way down Admiralty and we needed to gybe several times to stay near the edges of the traffic separation. I think we were using the spin pole to pole back the Asym so that we could point deeper but still needed several gybe. Of course that memory could be from one of the many other RWR's because the same is true for almost all of them.