I sail on an inland lake. We usually have good 10 to 20 knot winds (though often gusty) but I would like to improve my light air performance. I have an in-mast main furler which probably hurts in light air. I'm not a serious racer. What additional equipment (other than my existing spinnaker halyard) would be needed to use some type of asymmetrical spinnaker (APC, UPS, etc) and are they practical for single handing? Thanks Bill
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Extra contol to make it easier with an a-spinnaker
Additional equipment for single handing: 1. ATN 'tacker', etc. to keep the tack on the boat's center line when the tack of the sail is raised/eased. 2. Chute scoop, (sock) etc. with control lines led back to cockpit. Run control lines from cockpit to double block on the rail then to top of chute scoop. So that you dont have to leave the cockpit to douse or 'reef' the a-spinn when gybing, dousing, etc. Be sure to include the 'deployed' dimensions of the chute scoop or spinnaker sock when choosing an a-spinn .... so that you can pull the luff extra taught and use the sail above a broad reach.
Additional equipment for single handing: 1. ATN 'tacker', etc. to keep the tack on the boat's center line when the tack of the sail is raised/eased. 2. Chute scoop, (sock) etc. with control lines led back to cockpit. Run control lines from cockpit to double block on the rail then to top of chute scoop. So that you dont have to leave the cockpit to douse or 'reef' the a-spinn when gybing, dousing, etc. Be sure to include the 'deployed' dimensions of the chute scoop or spinnaker sock when choosing an a-spinn .... so that you can pull the luff extra taught and use the sail above a broad reach.
asym set up
You've already got the spin halyard so all you'll really want to add are some blocks near the stern for the sheets and an adjustable tackline to control the height of the sail's tack. My asym came with a sleeve that wraps around the furled jib, but I don't normally use it because you have to go all the way forward to hook it up. (I'm not sure if it's good for the foil either.) Anyway, I like to let it fly free with the tack just above the pulpit for beam reaching, a little higher for broad reaching. A bowsprit would really be cool... maybe someday. I also have a dousing sock, spinnaker sleeve, chutescoop...whatever you call it. For single handing, it's handy for dousing, but somewhat inconvenient for setting. The problem is that it's difficult to manage from the cockpit, but very easy from the foredeck. Check out any literature on this device and you'll always see a crew on the foredeck operating the chutescoop. The skipper is in the cockpit controlling the halyard, sheets and tackline. I think these things are designed for cruising couples on mid-sized boats who would have trouble with a large sail. For a smaller boat, under 30 feet, I think it's easier to use more traditional methods of setting and dousing. Such as launching from a turtle on deck and dousing by releasing the halyard and tack line, then retreiving the sail with the sheet back into the cockpit. I still use my sock, btw, but I've rigged everything so I can set the autopilot and just make one trip to the mast, then back to the cockpit. The sail is hooked inside the forward hatch, the hatch dogs are taped so I can open it from the outside, there's a cleat on the mast to tie off the halyard, and a vee(clam) cleat to set the tackline that can be released from the cockpit and finally a another cleat to tie off the sock's control line. Dousing is very easy, just release the tackline, snuff the sail and lower back into the open hatch while standing at the mast. Finally, the CruisingDirect.com site has a lot of information, and pictures, on how to set and sail your spinnaker.
You've already got the spin halyard so all you'll really want to add are some blocks near the stern for the sheets and an adjustable tackline to control the height of the sail's tack. My asym came with a sleeve that wraps around the furled jib, but I don't normally use it because you have to go all the way forward to hook it up. (I'm not sure if it's good for the foil either.) Anyway, I like to let it fly free with the tack just above the pulpit for beam reaching, a little higher for broad reaching. A bowsprit would really be cool... maybe someday. I also have a dousing sock, spinnaker sleeve, chutescoop...whatever you call it. For single handing, it's handy for dousing, but somewhat inconvenient for setting. The problem is that it's difficult to manage from the cockpit, but very easy from the foredeck. Check out any literature on this device and you'll always see a crew on the foredeck operating the chutescoop. The skipper is in the cockpit controlling the halyard, sheets and tackline. I think these things are designed for cruising couples on mid-sized boats who would have trouble with a large sail. For a smaller boat, under 30 feet, I think it's easier to use more traditional methods of setting and dousing. Such as launching from a turtle on deck and dousing by releasing the halyard and tack line, then retreiving the sail with the sheet back into the cockpit. I still use my sock, btw, but I've rigged everything so I can set the autopilot and just make one trip to the mast, then back to the cockpit. The sail is hooked inside the forward hatch, the hatch dogs are taped so I can open it from the outside, there's a cleat on the mast to tie off the halyard, and a vee(clam) cleat to set the tackline that can be released from the cockpit and finally a another cleat to tie off the sock's control line. Dousing is very easy, just release the tackline, snuff the sail and lower back into the open hatch while standing at the mast. Finally, the CruisingDirect.com site has a lot of information, and pictures, on how to set and sail your spinnaker.
See it live
Bill, I use an A-kite on Hunter 29.5 on Beaver Lake. Because the runs can be short at times and I may be short crew, I strongly recommend the spinnaker sock. Which by the way, I purchased on THIS website! (thanks Bly) Contact me through HOW Owners Log and I can tell you more.
Bill, I use an A-kite on Hunter 29.5 on Beaver Lake. Because the runs can be short at times and I may be short crew, I strongly recommend the spinnaker sock. Which by the way, I purchased on THIS website! (thanks Bly) Contact me through HOW Owners Log and I can tell you more.
more asymm single-handing.
If you dont want to bother with a chute scoop or sock, simply tack through the wind and lay the spinnaker up onto the mainsail. The backwinded spinnaker will stay there until you PULL is off. Obviously you need to careffully remove all sharp edges, etc. on the rig. I singlehand with a ~1750 sq. ft. A-spinn. and use either the chute scoop or tack-through to douse the sail. On the other hand raising a huge spinnaker from a turtle in the higher wind ranges will cause the top of the spinn to catch wind first .... and you risk wrapping a BIG bubble around the forestay.... and the autopilot cant instantly recognize to bear off and keep it full. A chute scoop allows a spinnaker to catch air and open from the bottom (just like tying it in stops) .... less chance for a wrap. Besides, you can also use the chute scoop to partly 'reef' a spinnaker - nice when gybing in sloppy sea states. ;-)
If you dont want to bother with a chute scoop or sock, simply tack through the wind and lay the spinnaker up onto the mainsail. The backwinded spinnaker will stay there until you PULL is off. Obviously you need to careffully remove all sharp edges, etc. on the rig. I singlehand with a ~1750 sq. ft. A-spinn. and use either the chute scoop or tack-through to douse the sail. On the other hand raising a huge spinnaker from a turtle in the higher wind ranges will cause the top of the spinn to catch wind first .... and you risk wrapping a BIG bubble around the forestay.... and the autopilot cant instantly recognize to bear off and keep it full. A chute scoop allows a spinnaker to catch air and open from the bottom (just like tying it in stops) .... less chance for a wrap. Besides, you can also use the chute scoop to partly 'reef' a spinnaker - nice when gybing in sloppy sea states. ;-)
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Search for 29.5 owners in Missouri. If you can't find s/v "Top Secret" there just send an email to blsc2005@yahoo.com
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