Don, Trying to learn more about light air sailing... Is ther an word error in your text? "Wind Shifts: Instead of sailing on a lifted tack as you do when you are sailing upwind, you sail on a HEADED tack downwind. This is more of a research than a run." I'm wondering if speel check chanted 'reach' to 'research'? .............. I sail an 81 Huther 36 with my wife. She tends the wheel but has little sailing experience and is somewhat inmoble. I'd like to use my asymetrical spinnaker in the MS gulf ligh air. I've seen a couple of web posts on rigging that suggest that "it is best to wrap a set of parrel beads around the furled genoa and snap-shackle them to the spinnaker tack. Parrel beads are solid nylon balls with holes drilled through them, through which a wire cable passes. Stainless steel thimbles at either end of the cable are shackled to the tack. The beads will roll over the furled genoa, allowing the tack of the cruising spinnaker to be raised and lowered with ease and keeping the tack of the spinnaker near the boat's centerline." Do you agree with this rigging aproach? If the tack line comes from the deck to the tack and the sail tack is hooked to the parrel bead loop around the furrled sail, the tack line will wrap nearly a turn around the furlled headsail when you jib to an opposite tack. Do I need to be concerned with abrading my sail cover when adjusting the tack line length on the opposite course?
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opps
I guess I should have taken time to log in and spell check my own message!!! ie speel check changed and Hunter 36
I guess I should have taken time to log in and spell check my own message!!! ie speel check changed and Hunter 36
Downwind
Jim; It is reach. The problem I had with that piece is that it was typed by a gal that had zero sailing experience but she was better at typing than I was. There were a number of typos but it was too late to fix them and I just had to let it go as is and hope for the best. Anyway, she would spell "sail" as "sale" and did not like the term cunnigham. She told me it had sexual overtones!! I told her it is a guys name - Briggs Cunningham, who was a famous racer and the skipper of the America cup boat Columbia in 1958. She wanted me to call it something else - like what I asked? Spinnakers are really not my bag. Mainly because most of the folks I deal with have trouble mastering the jib. There are a number of guys on this list that are very good with them and I'm sure they will have the answer
Jim; It is reach. The problem I had with that piece is that it was typed by a gal that had zero sailing experience but she was better at typing than I was. There were a number of typos but it was too late to fix them and I just had to let it go as is and hope for the best. Anyway, she would spell "sail" as "sale" and did not like the term cunnigham. She told me it had sexual overtones!! I told her it is a guys name - Briggs Cunningham, who was a famous racer and the skipper of the America cup boat Columbia in 1958. She wanted me to call it something else - like what I asked? Spinnakers are really not my bag. Mainly because most of the folks I deal with have trouble mastering the jib. There are a number of guys on this list that are very good with them and I'm sure they will have the answer
Think 'she' would prefer...
..."Smart Pig" to refer to Brigg's invention? Why 'smart pig'? Cunning...ham. Cunningham = smart pig. Yuk. We occasionally use it to mess up the occasional experienced racer on-board. The looks of confusion when the call to trim the 'Smart Pig' are well worth the grins produced. Just a thought...
..."Smart Pig" to refer to Brigg's invention? Why 'smart pig'? Cunning...ham. Cunningham = smart pig. Yuk. We occasionally use it to mess up the occasional experienced racer on-board. The looks of confusion when the call to trim the 'Smart Pig' are well worth the grins produced. Just a thought...
I don't like ANYTHING wrapped around the furler.
I used an ATN tacker and took a knockdown with it. It bent the foil so I went to tacking the Asymm directly to a line run through a block which itself is tacked to my bowsprit. Seeing as how you don't have a sprit, you could rig the downhaul block to an eye on the anchor roller, provided you have one.
I used an ATN tacker and took a knockdown with it. It bent the foil so I went to tacking the Asymm directly to a line run through a block which itself is tacked to my bowsprit. Seeing as how you don't have a sprit, you could rig the downhaul block to an eye on the anchor roller, provided you have one.
The beads rotate too
I'll stay away from cunningham jokes and just point out that the beads encircle the forestay and should remain ahead of the forestay (as on a bowsprit); in my case, the downhaul goes from the spinnaker, passes by the beads, then to a block off of the anchor then back towards the cockpit. So the downhaul can jibe, but really only rotates through 90 degrees from one side to the other (not 180+ degrees as if coming from one side to the other side). Hope that helps. Paul
I'll stay away from cunningham jokes and just point out that the beads encircle the forestay and should remain ahead of the forestay (as on a bowsprit); in my case, the downhaul goes from the spinnaker, passes by the beads, then to a block off of the anchor then back towards the cockpit. So the downhaul can jibe, but really only rotates through 90 degrees from one side to the other (not 180+ degrees as if coming from one side to the other side). Hope that helps. Paul
thanks +
That all makes sense except the smart pig! The pig was smarter than the typest! I was referring to info from the referenced website link and the photo in that presentation, when I asked the question. A fellow sailor had suggested a turning block attached to the top of the furler basket. That did not work well and also loaded against the pulpet. I'm guessing attaching the block to the anchor roller is the only choice I have w/o a sprit. I just have to be careful to position the kite behind the main if I'm going to try to take it down without assistance. thanks, All.
That all makes sense except the smart pig!
The pig was smarter than the typest! I was referring to info from the referenced website link and the photo in that presentation, when I asked the question. A fellow sailor had suggested a turning block attached to the top of the furler basket. That did not work well and also loaded against the pulpet. I'm guessing attaching the block to the anchor roller is the only choice I have w/o a sprit. I just have to be careful to position the kite behind the main if I'm going to try to take it down without assistance. thanks, All.Spinnaker Sleeve
Your last post mentioned positioning the asymmetric behind the main to take it down. You should also consider a spinnaker sleeve (ATN makes one). Made a world of difference for us; very easy to deploy and douse the spinnaker under any conditions. Paul
Your last post mentioned positioning the asymmetric behind the main to take it down. You should also consider a spinnaker sleeve (ATN makes one). Made a world of difference for us; very easy to deploy and douse the spinnaker under any conditions. Paul
Agree with CharlieCobra
Anything that captures the tack of an Asail to the headstay(furled headsail) is a very bad choice. The device will keep the tack on centerline, BUT it also draws the tack CLOSER to the main as the tack is raised. This is exactly opposite of what you are looking for. You should be tacking the sail downhaul as far forward as possible to increase separation between the tack and the main. A bowsprit or anchor roller are your best options. The difference between the two can be several feet of separation. When sailing deeper angles the tack will float out to weather further increasing separation and keeping the Asail out of the wind shadow of the main. The ATN will restrict this movement and not allow proper separation or sail trim.
Anything that captures the tack of an Asail to the headstay(furled headsail) is a very bad choice. The device will keep the tack on centerline, BUT it also draws the tack CLOSER to the main as the tack is raised. This is exactly opposite of what you are looking for. You should be tacking the sail downhaul as far forward as possible to increase separation between the tack and the main. A bowsprit or anchor roller are your best options. The difference between the two can be several feet of separation. When sailing deeper angles the tack will float out to weather further increasing separation and keeping the Asail out of the wind shadow of the main. The ATN will restrict this movement and not allow proper separation or sail trim.
Don do you agree?
Don, do you agree with what Alan says? I was convinced I should get the parrel bead setup. But his position is let the tack fly out from as far forward as I can get it... in my case, the anchor roller perhaps. I'm guessing that is about a 30-40 degree vertiacl angle to leeward instead of centerline.
Don, do you agree with what Alan says? I was convinced I should get the parrel bead setup. But his position is let the tack fly out from as far forward as I can get it... in my case, the anchor roller perhaps. I'm guessing that is about a 30-40 degree vertiacl angle to leeward instead of centerline.
Agree
Jim: My problem with spinnakers is "a man has to know his limitation" and I know mine which is that spinnakers just ain't my bag. There are a bunch of guys on this list like Stu, Joe from San Diego and a bunch more including Alan who I just would not go head to head with them on some subjects - not all subjects but some and spinnakers is one of them. If Alan told me something about spinnakers I personally would not question it. I'd just go out and do it the way he described it to me. In your case, it appears your thinking about another way and it appears you know what your talking about. If it were me I'd try both ways. Unfortunately, I don't know what both ways are!! I don't spend much time with threads on spinnakers - they confuse me!!
Jim: My problem with spinnakers is "a man has to know his limitation" and I know mine which is that spinnakers just ain't my bag. There are a bunch of guys on this list like Stu, Joe from San Diego and a bunch more including Alan who I just would not go head to head with them on some subjects - not all subjects but some and spinnakers is one of them. If Alan told me something about spinnakers I personally would not question it. I'd just go out and do it the way he described it to me. In your case, it appears your thinking about another way and it appears you know what your talking about. If it were me I'd try both ways. Unfortunately, I don't know what both ways are!! I don't spend much time with threads on spinnakers - they confuse me!!
Jim, on a short handed take- down
A single handed take-down is not that difficult without a snuffer. Start by turning the boat down on a deep run(160 AWA) being mindful not to create an accidental jibe(main sheet should be well eased). If you have a furled headsail you can unfurl it to help with the blanket effect. Keeping the sheet in will make retrieval easier. Bring the spinnaker sheet in to draw the clew closer to the boat. Release the tack line. This will draw the spinnaker behind the main. Take hold of the spinnaker sheet as close to the clew as you can. Ease the spinnaker halyard(I find standing on the halyard at the foot of the mast an easy way to control the drop without using hands) and sheet while gathering in the sail and sending it down the fore-peak hatch. If the air is light a windward drop will be easier. Ease the tack line several feet while pulling the tack in front of the unfurled headsail. Blow the sheet off and ease the spinnaker halyard while gathering the sail on the windward side of the genoa and stuffing it down the fore-peak hatch. Note: NEVER ever put a stopper knot in any spinnaker sheet. If there ever comes a time that the sheet needs to run free, that knot will create huge problems. A spinnaker sheet should be at least twice LOA.
A single handed take-down is not that difficult without a snuffer. Start by turning the boat down on a deep run(160 AWA) being mindful not to create an accidental jibe(main sheet should be well eased). If you have a furled headsail you can unfurl it to help with the blanket effect. Keeping the sheet in will make retrieval easier. Bring the spinnaker sheet in to draw the clew closer to the boat. Release the tack line. This will draw the spinnaker behind the main. Take hold of the spinnaker sheet as close to the clew as you can. Ease the spinnaker halyard(I find standing on the halyard at the foot of the mast an easy way to control the drop without using hands) and sheet while gathering in the sail and sending it down the fore-peak hatch. If the air is light a windward drop will be easier. Ease the tack line several feet while pulling the tack in front of the unfurled headsail. Blow the sheet off and ease the spinnaker halyard while gathering the sail on the windward side of the genoa and stuffing it down the fore-peak hatch. Note: NEVER ever put a stopper knot in any spinnaker sheet. If there ever comes a time that the sheet needs to run free, that knot will create huge problems. A spinnaker sheet should be at least twice LOA.
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