Cruising Spinnaker

[vegatern]

I have a cruising spinnaker on the boat which I have not yet
used. Now that I have finished painting, and almost have all the
hardware back in place, I am looking forward to giving it a try but
I'm not sure I understand it. The tack has one jib hank. There is
also a 15 or 20 foot line secured to the tack which runs through a
snap block. I assume the hank goes on the forestay and the snap block
is secured to the stem, and the line is used to adjust how high the
tack goes up the stay. Is this right? The sheets must pass in front
of the stay. Is hoisting this sail just like hoisting the jib? just
haul her up? Or am I in for a surprise? Can I tack or gibe with this
sail? What is the procedure to bring the sail down? I expect to
head up, secure the tiller, go forward and claw it down. Is there a
better way? I generally sail single handed and would like to avoid
unexpected excitement.
Thanks, Craig Tern #1519

 

[pjacobs55]

Generally with spinnakers and reachers I like to fall way off, blanket the sail with the main, ease the sheets completely and stuff the sale down the forward hatch. Possible for one person, but easier with one to ease the halyard and another to help get the sail down the hatch.Nicholas Walsh
Nicholas H. Walsh P.A.
111 Commercial Street
Portland Maine 04101
Tel. 207/772-2191
fax 207/774-3940

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[wxt8981]

Hi;
from what I read you might be in for a surprise- and not a
good one.
I love to fly the spinnaker, even though I sail single
handed. To get the spinnaker up is easy, to get it back
down
is the time when things can and will get wrong.
When you hook up the spinnaker, all lines (halyard, and the
2 sheets) must be forward of the for-stay.
Hook the spinnaker pole on the opposite side from the boom.

Attach the halyard and the 2 sheets and get the spinnaker
up. That's easy though you might have a knot in the sail
because you didn't stuff the spinnaker right.....) If the
wind is light, you can undo the knot- otherwise you're
better off to get the sail back down)
When single handed, you have only two arms! But you really
need three! Make sure you have gloves! When you down the
spinnaker, first let out the sheet where the spinnaker pole
is, then slowly ease the halyard ( that's the line you'll
burn your hand) and then bring in the sheet and spinnaker
on the other side from the pole, and if all goes well, you
should get the spinnaker down.
Practice in light air.. like I said, I love to fly my
spinnaker- but I do have burned my hand- and when the wind
picks up, things can get hairy... but you'll learn that in
time... Good luck!
Wilhelm, V-257

 

[mphalv]

We have what we call a "drifter-reacher" It attaches the same as a jib, and
is jibbed as for any jib. Since it is a light-air sail, I don't leave it up
when the wind is freshening. The few times the weather surpised me, have
resulted in an "interesting" moments on the heaving foredeck. I usually get
down on my knees and hand the drifter with both hands while letting it luff.
It never hurts to pray to the ocean gods to still the sea land wind long
enough to get the drifter in

Paul
Double Fantasy
Holeden Maine