Help! 1/2 spinnaker rigging Q's-29.5

[Todd]

My father-in-law has a 29.5 Hunter and we bought him a 1/2 spinnaker through UK Sails. We have also purchased a "Tacker" collar to secure the tack of the spinnaker to the furled jib. As is already painfully obvious, I am not very knowledgale about such things, but we are anxious to try it out. The halyard to fly the "flasher with a stasher" is rigged and ready. My question is, how do you secure the clew? It seems that it needs to be rigged back to the cockpit just like the jib but the rigging is certainly not set-up for it while the jib lines are in place. The diagrams and instructions for flying the sail are confusing and seem incomplete. Are we missing something here? Also, does the jib need to be furled for the spinnaker to fly with the tacker in use? Any help is appreciated!

 

[Joan]

We fly a balooner on our 29.5

I'll give you some information now, but will verify it the next time out if you want more. We do have winches on the coaming and a separate halyard. We have a tacker that fits over the furled jib. We also have a large block on the bow of the boat about 2-3' down that is used for the downhaul and it is led back to a cleat near the stern rail. Also there are blocks on each side of the boat fastened to the front side of the stern rail. There is actually a place for them. The sheets go through these blocks and to the winches. If you would like additional information, let me know. We are on Lake Ontario near Rochester, NY. We set our boat up this way from the beginning and do enjoy the balooner. If you have an aluminum boom vang, perhaps you can answer my recent posting.

 

[Bill Colombo]

Rigging Sheets for a Flasher or Spinnaker

Todd,In order to fly your new UK FLasher you will need to rig a couple of sheets. You will need 2 sheets, each one approximately twice the length of the boat. These are both tied to the clew of the sail and each is led through a block attached to the rail near the stern. You should make sure to position these blocks so that you have a clean lead to each winch. When you rig the sheets also check that the "lazy" sheet goes around the front of the headstay and not inside of it like the genoa sheets. This will allow you to jibe your Flasher.Good Sailing!Bill Colombo, UKSF

 

[Gary]

Read the manual

Todd, are you sure you do not have the "tack" and the "clew" confused? .. The tack is the corner of the sail that is secured to the bow.. It is slightly longer when the sail is hanging. You need to have a Spinnaker Tack Line built. I had mine done at West Marine. ASSUMING you have the crusing option and NOT the racing which uses an aluminum extension off the bow. You need a 3/8" good quality line assembled with a snap shackle at both ends. There is an "eye" on the bow about 12" below the anchor roller. Place one end of the Spinn Tack Line in this eye, run the line over one of the anchor rollers and attach the other end to the "tack" of the sail. Next a couple of 3/8" lines approx 55' long to attach to the "clew" (Mine came from West Marine and where actually listed as replacement halyards for a "J" boat)... these are run to the back of the boat where you need a couple of snatch blocks that are attached to the eyes you will find on the stern rail.. These blocks act as "turning blocks" and direct the lines to the spinnaker winches that I assume were ordered as optional equipment if you wanted a "chute". I have an ATN brand "collar" and it is ok, but no big deal, kind of a pain to fasten actually. Foot note: I agree that if possible I would reverse my winches and but the #16's back for the spinnake and move the #30's to the cabin top for day to day sailing. If you don't have winches already the Lewmar #30's Hunter provides seem overkill here to me.Gary

 

[Gary]

The book says ....48"

According to my manual, the 3/8" Spinnaker Tack Line for the CRUISING option is to be 48" long.IF you do not have a manual email me and I may be able to FAX you the pages. BUT I will be traveling on business and not sure when I will be backon line to respond.hunter@usinternet.com

 

[Robert Gillan]

Tack Line

Todd: Yes, you can go with a fixed tack line of 48" as the Hunter specs suggest but you may be dissatisfied with the lack of ability to control sail trim. I have rigged a tack line through a block affixed to the bowsprit and run back to the cockpit; the height of the tack can now be simply adjusted. I used a slider ring when I first got the asymetrical spinnaker (AS) but was frustrated with it binding, jamming, etc and so discarded it. Racing boats using AS all use adjustable tack lines.Sail Hard, sail FAst!