222 Spinnaker Track Question

[daleyellin]

Ok, I've built my spinnaker pole thanks to the help from the forum. Now it's on to the mast attachment. I've decided to go with a track instead of a fixed eye. For those of you that have a spinnaker track, what is the suggested length of the track, and, at what height, from the mast base, should the center point of the track be?

Thanks, again

Dale

P.S. -- Going racing again on Saturday. We came out third overall after three races a couple of weeks ago. My first race in around 25 years.l

 

[Brian S]

I would reach out to Jackdaw http://forums.oday.sailboatowners.com/member.php?u=100643
Or Stu Jackson: http://forums.oday.sailboatowners.com/member.php?u=74093

Those guys are racers and wicked knowledgable about stuff, and might have some guidance for you. Tough to find info on the interwebs, because many references talk about height of outboard end of the pole, for purposes of keeping the clews the same height. At best they will say that if the inboard end is moveable, then raise/lower it as you raise/lower the outboard end, such that you keep the pole perpendicular to the mast, so that it can project the maximum length. Smaller one design boat I've sailed have a fixed position attachment ring that's specified by the class rules.

It's easy to make the pole length - it's the J measurement, and if you go longer there's a ratings penalty. But this other stuff, not so easy to get the rule of thumb...