This weekend i manage to fly only my assymetric (no main) dead downwind using the main boom with a pulley attached to the end, and push it until it hit the stays, and running the spy sheet through it, not the best setting but i was able to do almost 1.5 knot more than with the main alone. (i have no pole on my h41). Very easy to fly by myself with less than 10 knots (with sock). Do you have a better idea to run dead downwind ? no backstay and the main is rubbing on the stays all the time, in this way the boat is very easy on the helm and there is no rubbing on the stays.
FLYING A ASSYMETRIC SPY DEAD DOWNWIND
- Thread starter Valerio
- Start date
You have to get used to the main rubbing on the spreaders on B&R rig. If you can't stand it, don't look up. The rig is not really set up for running DDW, but I and many others have done it. Hopefully the sailmaker gave us some spreader patches to mitigate the damage. I had very little damage to my main BTW. I don't know why but I think maybe with the main pinned against the spreader there isn't that much chafe. Not a way to cross an ocean but not too bad for a Wed pm race.
The asym probably works OK without the main but it is not shaped for DDW sailing. But if it works for you ...
The asym probably works OK without the main but it is not shaped for DDW sailing. But if it works for you ...
I had in furling main and i just purchased a new main it comes with patches, not sure how much time will last running downwind, (it does not need to be dead downwind) my main is all ways touching the spreaders. I think it will not last a long time running this way.
Yes, using the boom to better the angle, and keep your foresail from collapsing, is a good technique. I suggest this in lighter air, and being aware of the weather forecast for building wind pressure. The safe way to dowse your spinnaker in the sock in heavier air requires that you blanket the spin behind the main. Without the main up, you may be in the uncomfortable situation of trying to fight the spin back into the sock when it doesn't want to go, and no way to de-power it.
I have zero experience flying an asym... so sorry if this is a stupid comment... but couldn't you just depower it by easing the sheet (or heading upwind if surroundings allow) instead of blanketing with the main? Of course, I suppose that leaves you without any sail up at all... which isn't always perfect... but could work sometimes.
In right seaway and lighter winds, we have run an asymmetric spinnaker going wing-and-wing without a pole when you are determined to go pretty much dead down wind. When you want to put the chute away, You jibe the main and put the chute down in the "wind shadow" of the main.
YOU have to be careful NOT to wrap the chute around the forestay. You should ONLY try this is a relative flat win with pretty even (and lighter winds).
You don't need the main to be that far out -- whatever is comfortable with you rig. Leting the air "slide down" into the chute tens to steady it.
OF COURSE, you know that you're really better off in most cases reaching off on most boats. (I would guess with your Hunter too.) You'll usually get more speed with the apparent wind about 130 degrees (or so). If the wind picks up you'll be able to avoid a FUBAR situation.
YOU have to be careful NOT to wrap the chute around the forestay. You should ONLY try this is a relative flat win with pretty even (and lighter winds).
You don't need the main to be that far out -- whatever is comfortable with you rig. Leting the air "slide down" into the chute tens to steady it.
OF COURSE, you know that you're really better off in most cases reaching off on most boats. (I would guess with your Hunter too.) You'll usually get more speed with the apparent wind about 130 degrees (or so). If the wind picks up you'll be able to avoid a FUBAR situation.
Don’t steer from a downwind heading to an upwind heading . you would have to pass thru a reach.
If the asymm were still sheeted on the reach the boat would be overpowered and you would be knocked down.
If the spinn sheet were eased and you turned into the wind, the sail would flog against the forestay and side shrouds and self destruct.
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WHY YOU SHOULD GO TO A REACH FROM A DONWWIND LEG? I LOWER THE SPY BEFORE REACHING THE BUOY SO I AM READY FOR THE UPPER WIND LEG WITH MY JIB ALLREADY SET.
I’m a cruiser. I love flying the asymm in light air as often as possible. . The following is how we do it with two people with zero drama.
Two person take down without a snuffer.
On our boat, we head deeper to blanket the asymm behind the main
Prepare.flake, tack line, sheets, halyard.
Ease the asymm sheet a little.
helm Releases the tack line to depower the sail
Douser Takes hold of the lazy sheet and the foot of the asymm and gathers the foot of the sail in front of the side shrouds.
Helm lowers the spin halyard fast, but under control.
Two person douse with snuffer
Prepare all lines and snuffer control lines
Helm steers down to blanket the asymm behind the mainsail and eases asymm sheet a few feet so the clew is forward of the shrouds
Tack line is eased so sail depowers completely.
Snuffer is pulled down all the way
Spine Halyard is releases so sniffed sail drops down on deck. Snuffed sail goes into turtle bag
Emergency take down
For example
Sailing downwind at around 130 degrees apparent with less than 10 kts apparent wind speed
Passing between two islands and suddenly the wind shifts to 70 degrees apparent at 15 - 20 kts apparent wind speed.
We can’t turn downwind to reduce the apparent wind because there’s an island in the way.
The boat heels precipitously and the helm loads up and the helm is losing control, all within a second or two.
Release the tack line completely (there is no knot in the end) and the asymm depowers instantantly.
Release the Vang if it’s on to depower the main.
Grab the lazy sheet to pull the foot of the asymm to hand.
Lower the spin halyard.
Two person take down without a snuffer.
On our boat, we head deeper to blanket the asymm behind the main
Prepare.flake, tack line, sheets, halyard.
Ease the asymm sheet a little.
helm Releases the tack line to depower the sail
Douser Takes hold of the lazy sheet and the foot of the asymm and gathers the foot of the sail in front of the side shrouds.
Helm lowers the spin halyard fast, but under control.
Two person douse with snuffer
Prepare all lines and snuffer control lines
Helm steers down to blanket the asymm behind the mainsail and eases asymm sheet a few feet so the clew is forward of the shrouds
Tack line is eased so sail depowers completely.
Snuffer is pulled down all the way
Spine Halyard is releases so sniffed sail drops down on deck. Snuffed sail goes into turtle bag
Emergency take down
For example
Sailing downwind at around 130 degrees apparent with less than 10 kts apparent wind speed
Passing between two islands and suddenly the wind shifts to 70 degrees apparent at 15 - 20 kts apparent wind speed.
We can’t turn downwind to reduce the apparent wind because there’s an island in the way.
The boat heels precipitously and the helm loads up and the helm is losing control, all within a second or two.
Release the tack line completely (there is no knot in the end) and the asymm depowers instantantly.
Release the Vang if it’s on to depower the main.
Grab the lazy sheet to pull the foot of the asymm to hand.
Lower the spin halyard.
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BUY A SHOCK AND AVOID ALL THAT, WHEN CRUSING I AM ALONE IN THE SAILBOAT AND I DO ALL BY MYSELF AND CARLOS MY AUTOPILOT
It’s not stupid to ask questions on this forum! That’s the whole point.
Perhaps “theoretically” releasing sheet or tack depowers the sail, allowing you to treat it like a flag, then drop smoothly to the calm foredeck. On a dinghy, the crew can physically overpower the sail by brute strength. Practically, it turns out like SG and Judy described - a flaming mess in 30 knots with hundreds of square feet of nylon in tatters or in the sea. Turning up leads to a knockdown, and having too much sail up is frightening. After living through a spinnaker wrap in building winds while shorthanded, I’ll never put one up without a good plan to get it down.
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I have found that I can drop the spinnaker with my sock in strong winds without the main up by fully easing the sheet until it flags out in front of the forestay and then pulling down on the sock from the forepeak at the base of the forestay. if I do not go forward, the sock will not come down but it is easy when forward.