222 Spinnaker attachment point

[JoeinAZ]

I found a .75 oz spinnaker sail buried in a locker on my O222. I have a RF jib and want to know where you attach the spinnaker halyard to the mast. The local sail shop said not to go to the mast head because of the strain.

 

[Sunbird22358]

Traditionally, a spinnaker halyard is attached just above the forestay tang on the mast. Spinnakers are usually flown outside of the forestay, and will be gybed ahead of the forestay as you change tacks downwind. Is this an asymmetric spinnaker, or standard "full" spinnaker ,sometimes called a radial head?

 

[JoeinAZ]

It is an asymmetrical spinnaker. So I need to install another tang just above the RF tang? Do you think 1 foot higher is enough room to avoid chaffing on the RF? Have you used a "spinnaker sock"? Would this make sense since I sail in light air and single-handed?

 

[RichBone]

Do you have two headsail halyards running internally?

Rich

 

[JoeinAZ]

I have just the main and one headsail halyard running internally.
There is room enough to add another halyard, but I think I would weaken the mast too much if I cut another slot for a spinnaker halyard exit.

 

[RichBone]

You could still go internal without weakening the mast. But if you want to go external, which is much easier anyhow, then use a mast strap.
Such as-
#R4654
http://www.apsltd.com/c-70-boommastbailsstrapstangs.aspx

or
#53.15
http://sailcare.com/mast-boom-fittings.shtml

You could also check RigRite.
http://rigrite.com/index.htm
Find your mast section or a boom section that's similar to your's and see what they've got. They are an incredible resource.

You don't need to mount it a foot above the forestay. 4-6" would be plenty. Remember that the spinnaker will be pulling the block out and away from the mast.

Rich