Installing a Spinnaker

[Tedd]

I recently bought a boat that came with a brand new asymmetrical spinnaker that, so far as I know, was never used on the boat. I've never flown a spinnaker before and I plan to take a friend who has racing experience to show me how to use it, the first time. But, while preparing for that, I came to wonder if the boat is even properly set up for it. There doesn't seem to be anything on the bowsprit for the spinnaker to attach to. Here's a photo.

Should there be some kind of fitting at the front of the bowsprit? What kind of fitting is best? Would it go on the top face or the forward face? Or could/should something be attached to the pulpit?

 

[jon hansen]

so where does the forestay attach?

what are all those blocks for?

is it a monohull?

 

[Tedd]

Yes, she's a monohull--a TES 246 Versus.

What you see beneath the pulpit seat is the block and tackle for the built in mast raising system. The forestay attaches to the A frame, which also holds the top block of the block and tackle. The A frame acts as a gin pole. The bottom block is attached to the hull. When the mast is up the A frame is down and the forestay is in the normal position. When you want to drop the mast you remove the pin between the blocks and let the block and tackle out. If it's temporary you just leave the forestay on the A frame (which is now vertical). If you're putting the boat on the trailer you detach the forestay from the A frame so you can pull the mast forward to the stowed position (as shown in the photo).

 

[jon hansen]

sweet boat. tie tack to seat for now maybe. call company for advice.

want full report on how it sails. pictures too

enjoy, jon

 

[sail sfbay]

Any connection point will do, like the anchor roller ahead of the forestay tack. If it is a masthead suggest a tacker The Tacker | No Boom Spinnaker Handler | ATN Sailing Equipment.

 

[Tedd]

Thanks, @sail sfbay ! I'll experiment with it. The article on the Tacker web site seems to suggest that a higher mounting of the tack is better. Maybe I should rig something up at the top of the pulpit?
The rigging is 7/8 fractional, if that makes a difference.

 

[sail sfbay]

With a fractional rig you should not need a tacker. My Hunter 386 was fractional and I attached the foot to a hole in the anchor roller ahead of the forestay.

 

[Tedd]

With a fractional rig you should not need a tacker.

Is that because the block for the spinnaker halyard is so far above the forestay?

 

[sail sfbay]

No, it is because the spinnaker halyard is forward of the jib forestay and will not foul it.

 

[Tedd]

No, it is because the spinnaker halyard is forward of the jib forestay and will not foul it.

So, on a masthead rig the spinnaker halyard is underneath the forestay? Why would that be? (Sorry for my ignorance but I've never flown a spinnaker nor sailed a masthead rig.)

 

[mermike]

The spinnaker halyard should run through a block attached to an extension of the masthead called a crane. It keeps the halyard above and forward of the forestay.

 

[Tedd]

Thanks, @mermike . My boat already has the masthead block for the spinnaker halyard installed, along with the halyard. I'm just trying to understand @sail sfbay 's comments about the need for a "Tacker" with a masthead rig but not with a fractional rig.

@sail sfbay , I think we might be talking at cross purposes. It seems to me (based on what @mermike said) that the spinnaker halyard is forward of the jib forestay on both a fractional rig and a masthead rig, which makes sense to me. But I'm still confused about why the "Tacker" matters more on the masthead rig. I assumed that it was because, on the masthead rig, the spinnaker halyard top block is very close to where the forestay attaches to the mast (hence, my comment about the height difference between a masthead rig and a fractional rig). Are we saying the same thing with different words, or have I misunderstood your explanation?

 

[sail sfbay]

On a masthead, the spinnaker halyard top block is very close to where the forestay attaches to the mast. You want separation from the head stay and a tacker can provide that if you cannot achieve adequate separation.

 

[jon hansen]

On a masthead, the spinnaker halyard top block is very close to where the forestay attaches to the mast. You want separation from the head stay and a tacker can provide that if you cannot achieve adequate separation.

never heard of such, why the need?

 

[PaulK]

never heard of such, why the need?

Spin halyard can get wrapped up in the head of the jib if they're too close. Had it happen (and undid it in time) yesterday.

 

[justsomeguy]

Is that because the block for the spinnaker halyard is so far above the forestay?

How far above the forestay is your swiveling halyard block?
This is critical.

 

[Tedd]

How far above the forestay is your swiveling halyard block?
This is critical.

Just for clarification, my boat is 7/8 fractional, and the spinnaker halyard block is about a meter above the top of the forestay. I'm only discussing masthead rigs because @sail sfbay made a couple of comments about them that I didn't understand and I was trying to get clarification.

 

[justsomeguy]

the spinnaker halyard block is about a meter above the top of the forestay.

That's a fair bit above. Be conservative with the winds with which you fly that spinnaker.
I'd go no more than 15-18 inches above the forestay, and still play gently.

 

[jssailem]

Tedd.
Lets distinguish between Asymmetrical and Spinnaker.
Basics

The Asymmetrical attaches the Tack of the sail on the bow. Location is out in front of the forestay. Since you want to adjust the tack to trim the sail the attachment at the deck is a block. You run a line from cockpit thru the block and attach to the sail tack. When the tack is pulled tight to the deck the sail looks like a balloony Genoa.

The head is hoisted to the mast and a sheet is attached to the clew giving the sail 3 points of attachment.

A standard spinnaker has a head up the mast and two sheets port/starboard. On the windward side a pole is attached to the mast and the clew to help hold the sail in place. A guy or topping lift is used to support the pole and trim the height of the sail.

Which sail do you have?

 

[Tedd]

Which sail do you have?

Hi John. As I said in the initial post, it's an asymmetrical spinnaker.