Well after this weekend's experience in trying to get the Asymetrical chute down without a sock, I may not be permitted to ever fly it again until we have a sock! The boat is a H34 so the asym is pretty big. Anyone out there have a good method for dousing that dosen't threaten to pull their first mate overboard? On the topic of socks- any preferences as to types, if I bought a used one, how do I make sure it will hold my spinnaker- I know the length I need ( I =46') but what about circumference- the chute is 1.5 nylon.
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Dousing the chute
Turn downwind and let the main shadow the chute then release the tack or tackline to collapse it. Gain control of the sail by easing the sheet and grabbing the foot then pulling the sail in while the cockpit crew controls the release of the spin halyard. If you have the bag on deck or cradled inside the hatch you can stuff it right back in as it comes down. Remember to control the halyard release to help keep the sail out of the water. The circumfrence of the sock won't be much of a problem. The sock doesn't have to be exactly 46', because you're going to cheat the tack and clew out before setting. Just stuff the extra length inside. Go to CruisingDirect.com to get more info on cruising spinnakers and socks etc.
Turn downwind and let the main shadow the chute then release the tack or tackline to collapse it. Gain control of the sail by easing the sheet and grabbing the foot then pulling the sail in while the cockpit crew controls the release of the spin halyard. If you have the bag on deck or cradled inside the hatch you can stuff it right back in as it comes down. Remember to control the halyard release to help keep the sail out of the water. The circumfrence of the sock won't be much of a problem. The sock doesn't have to be exactly 46', because you're going to cheat the tack and clew out before setting. Just stuff the extra length inside. Go to CruisingDirect.com to get more info on cruising spinnakers and socks etc.
The problem you are having with the douce is holding both the tack and the sheet at the same time. All sails have three corners, if any one corner is released the sail becomes a flag with no power. We usually blow the tack and pull the sheet in under the boom. You can also do a weather drop by releasing the sheet and pulling the tack in on the foredeck and down the hatch. Either one works just fine PROVIDED you release one side first. In either case, your wife can work the halyard as you gather and stuff the chute.
Dousing with a sock
I thought I'd wait til the smarter sailors weighed in; as a novice, I was amazed at how easy a sock made dousing and deploying my new asymmetric. I went with ATN (and their tacker). Blow the tack and head up front to pull down the sleeve. Release the halyard and stuff away. Definitely made the admiral happy. Paul
I thought I'd wait til the smarter sailors weighed in; as a novice, I was amazed at how easy a sock made dousing and deploying my new asymmetric. I went with ATN (and their tacker). Blow the tack and head up front to pull down the sleeve. Release the halyard and stuff away. Definitely made the admiral happy. Paul
Ditto for ATN bought here on HOW
After messing with the A-chute for years I finally purchased an ATN sock here at HOW with Bly's help. A great investment and it will make life easier. You are much more likely to fly the chute with the sock and otherwise the chute would sit an mildew. Either buy the sock or sell (not sail) the chute! And yes it does help to shadow the chute with the mainsail but that honker is big and its hard to do short handed. Get the ATN now at HOW
After messing with the A-chute for years I finally purchased an ATN sock here at HOW with Bly's help. A great investment and it will make life easier. You are much more likely to fly the chute with the sock and otherwise the chute would sit an mildew. Either buy the sock or sell (not sail) the chute! And yes it does help to shadow the chute with the mainsail but that honker is big and its hard to do short handed. Get the ATN now at HOW
this socks
The wife and I sail just the 2 of us most of the time. She is comfortable with the helm, but not too good with line handling. Practical Sailor did a review on socks about 9 months ago. I bought a North Sails sock and what a difference it makes. Depending on the point of sail I release either the tack or the sheet and just pull the sock down. Piece of cake, takes 3 seconds, the sail stays dry, and I bag it still in the sock. It's also an easy way to jibe the chute.
The wife and I sail just the 2 of us most of the time. She is comfortable with the helm, but not too good with line handling. Practical Sailor did a review on socks about 9 months ago. I bought a North Sails sock and what a difference it makes. Depending on the point of sail I release either the tack or the sheet and just pull the sock down. Piece of cake, takes 3 seconds, the sail stays dry, and I bag it still in the sock. It's also an easy way to jibe the chute.
Bill, no it doesn't.
HOW is Hunter Owners Website and Bly is a wonderful-helpful person who works in the chandlery at HOW.
HOW is Hunter Owners Website and Bly is a wonderful-helpful person who works in the chandlery at HOW.
I was asking about this ...
... awhile back cause I have used Joe's "flag" approach for a couple of decades and was wondering why I needed a sock. The answers surprised me. The sock doesn't really make it easier to get down, the flag method works great for that. But, with a sock, you don't have to repack the thing to set it again. It's ready to go! Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
... awhile back cause I have used Joe's "flag" approach for a couple of decades and was wondering why I needed a sock. The answers surprised me. The sock doesn't really make it easier to get down, the flag method works great for that. But, with a sock, you don't have to repack the thing to set it again. It's ready to go! Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
Singlehand
If you are solo, the sock is a must. On my 260 I have come up with a way to go forward to hook up the tack, sheets and halyard. I then hoist the chute and pull the sock up from the cockpit. I can also douse it from the cockpit. Going forward and wrestling the thing back down while the boat may decide to gybe(no autopilot) was not my idea of fun.
If you are solo, the sock is a must. On my 260 I have come up with a way to go forward to hook up the tack, sheets and halyard. I then hoist the chute and pull the sock up from the cockpit. I can also douse it from the cockpit. Going forward and wrestling the thing back down while the boat may decide to gybe(no autopilot) was not my idea of fun.
Ed ...
Ed ... I use a chute singlehanded often in winds up to about 10 mph ... that is to say, on light air days. The trick I think is more about understand balancing the boat than about raising and lowering the sail. When I singlehand, I take a piece of cotton line (cotton has a bit of friction to it) and run it across the cockpit with a turn around the tiller, shock corded at both ends. This lets me set the tiller where I want. On a wheel boat, you can just lock the wheel. On my boat, you can then set her up on a reach, say 70-80 degrees, and she'll balance for several minutes at a time. On my boat, you need to be above 90 degrees to get her to balance. Once you're below 90, the waves catch the boat on the quarter and slew her around too much for a lashed tiller to work. You now have time to work the boat, getting everything rigged. Once I get the chute rigged to raise, I drop the jib, rebalance, and pop her up. Then I can fall off to whatever course I want and fill the chute (actually, mine will set at about 65 degrees). (Note ... I drop the jib first cause after the chute goes up, when I'm by myself there's just too much going on to get the jib down.) To lower, I again come up to above 90 degrees, get her balanced out, and use the flag technique described at the beginning of this thread to take the chute down. If later on I want to reset, when I'm by myself I have to heave to and go below and repack the chute into a turtle, which I don't like to do cause I'm down below too long and can't keep an eye out for drunks. So usually for me, at least on weekends, it's once a day. Which is why I'm thinking about a sock. All this is on a C27, and I'm not sure I could do all this on a boat of more than 30 feet or so. Disclaimers ... I grew up racing and am pretty quick around the foredeck, even at 56. It would be hard to do this wearing a lifeline, but I am ALWAYS wearing a lifejacket when I singlehand, and I'm sailing a lake, not coastal. And, I only do this in the right conditions ... winds below 10 and not enough waves to get bouncy. After that, there's enough wind I don't need the chute anymore, and I stay in the cockpit like a good boy. Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
Ed ... I use a chute singlehanded often in winds up to about 10 mph ... that is to say, on light air days. The trick I think is more about understand balancing the boat than about raising and lowering the sail. When I singlehand, I take a piece of cotton line (cotton has a bit of friction to it) and run it across the cockpit with a turn around the tiller, shock corded at both ends. This lets me set the tiller where I want. On a wheel boat, you can just lock the wheel. On my boat, you can then set her up on a reach, say 70-80 degrees, and she'll balance for several minutes at a time. On my boat, you need to be above 90 degrees to get her to balance. Once you're below 90, the waves catch the boat on the quarter and slew her around too much for a lashed tiller to work. You now have time to work the boat, getting everything rigged. Once I get the chute rigged to raise, I drop the jib, rebalance, and pop her up. Then I can fall off to whatever course I want and fill the chute (actually, mine will set at about 65 degrees). (Note ... I drop the jib first cause after the chute goes up, when I'm by myself there's just too much going on to get the jib down.) To lower, I again come up to above 90 degrees, get her balanced out, and use the flag technique described at the beginning of this thread to take the chute down. If later on I want to reset, when I'm by myself I have to heave to and go below and repack the chute into a turtle, which I don't like to do cause I'm down below too long and can't keep an eye out for drunks. So usually for me, at least on weekends, it's once a day. Which is why I'm thinking about a sock. All this is on a C27, and I'm not sure I could do all this on a boat of more than 30 feet or so. Disclaimers ... I grew up racing and am pretty quick around the foredeck, even at 56. It would be hard to do this wearing a lifeline, but I am ALWAYS wearing a lifejacket when I singlehand, and I'm sailing a lake, not coastal. And, I only do this in the right conditions ... winds below 10 and not enough waves to get bouncy. After that, there's enough wind I don't need the chute anymore, and I stay in the cockpit like a good boy. Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
I wish I was on your side of the world
so that I could go for a ride and watch you (Denis or Tom) in action. I am sure you guys are smooth and confident. My skills are increasing with new lessons learned almost every time out. So maybe some day.
so that I could go for a ride and watch you (Denis or Tom) in action. I am sure you guys are smooth and confident. My skills are increasing with new lessons learned almost every time out. So maybe some day.
Wind ...
If I'm singlehanding and I start getting anything more than an occassional whitecap, down she comes. I think that's at about 10 knots. Ed ... if you try all this on a light-air day, nothing much bad happens if you mess up. Take someone with you to help bail you out, if you want, but just try it by yourself under some real easy conditions. The worst that can happen is the boat rounds up or you tangle something, and in real easy air, so what? Four years ago, I'd done a lot of sailing but I had never singlehanded a keel boat. Got tired of waiting for/looking for/being dependent upon crew. So one day, I sat there and thought it all through, and went out under reduced sail. Found out the world didn't fall apart, and today you're right, I do it smoothly and confidently (mostly). Just think things through first, and then JUST TRY IT! Good sailers become so because they tried things and experimented. Tom Tom
If I'm singlehanding and I start getting anything more than an occassional whitecap, down she comes. I think that's at about 10 knots. Ed ... if you try all this on a light-air day, nothing much bad happens if you mess up. Take someone with you to help bail you out, if you want, but just try it by yourself under some real easy conditions. The worst that can happen is the boat rounds up or you tangle something, and in real easy air, so what? Four years ago, I'd done a lot of sailing but I had never singlehanded a keel boat. Got tired of waiting for/looking for/being dependent upon crew. So one day, I sat there and thought it all through, and went out under reduced sail. Found out the world didn't fall apart, and today you're right, I do it smoothly and confidently (mostly). Just think things through first, and then JUST TRY IT! Good sailers become so because they tried things and experimented. Tom Tom
Good points Tom...
and Ed many of us have done exactly what you are doing: trial and error, learn as you go, learn something new every time out and build confidence. As a funny sideline I actualy maybe relocating on your side of the country soon. So who knows? maybe we will sail together someday!
and Ed many of us have done exactly what you are doing: trial and error, learn as you go, learn something new every time out and build confidence. As a funny sideline I actualy maybe relocating on your side of the country soon. So who knows? maybe we will sail together someday!
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