Help with DRS head sail. asymmetric spinnaker

[Scotian]

With my new to me sailboat there is an asymmetric spinnaker that vendor called a DRS sail.
It has a sock for opening and worked great on day we had it up. Boat has a furling head sail.
I have no prior spinnaker experience and vendor is not in this area.
Questions... What is it in picture that appears to be a protection for furled head sail. If is, could not keep lines in place so was not doing something correct.
Does one use a spinnaker pole with this type of sail. I did not and seemed to work OK.

Any suggestions or comments on this sail would be appreciated by this novice spinnaker sailor in a small club with mostly power boats.
Thanks

 

[BobM]

http://www.atninc.com/tacker.html

You need a downhaul in front of your furled sail. Hope this link helps.

 

[Clark]

Also, to your questions:
No, you do not need a pole. They fly quite well without one.

BobM provided the link to the device call a tacker. It keeps the tack of the spin somwhat centered. It is intended to clip around the furled headsail and its design is to allow the tacker to ride up and down as need for best trim. BTW, the tacker was originally design to be used with a symmetric spinnaker w/o a pole. Some people are not too crazy about it on an asymm spinnaker. I have one and have used it a couple of times but haven't decided if it is a good thing or a waste.

Another name for the "downhaul" is "tack line". Just a length of line off the tack to be either cleated off for a fixed length or ran through a block and back towards the cockpit and setup to be adjustable. Tighten it up when the apparent winds approach 90* (makes it look like a fat genoa) and let it out when you get on a broad reach => 135-50* (bellies out and looks more like a symm spinnaker).

 

[RichH]

Use the ATN tacker to keep the tack of the Asymm close to the boat's centerline for best performance.

How much 'pull' should one use on the tackline?
Answ: enough tackline tension so that the sail 'luffs' just about 'midway' up the luff. If the sail luffs high up towards the head, then pull in on the tackline; if the sail luffs low towards the tack, then ease the tackline; luffing 'just above the mid section' is what you want.

 

[joe22]

the "thing a ma jig" in the picture is a tacker. its designed for the asymmetrical spinnaker. it allows you to fly a asymmetrical spinnaker " cruising chute or gennaker, mps". it holds the spinnaker tack close to centerline of the boat by sliding over a furled headsail and can be adjusted up and down with a downhaul. with this item and your sleeve it should be fun and enjoyable to sail your spiannaker. but in my best advise you should become very familiar with your boat and the way she normally functions before raising the chute.

 

[Scotian]

Thanks for the inputs. Much wiser than I was prior to posting.
Now just have to await a decent day and light breeze and away we go.

Scotian

 

[Alan]

You should also know that this thing is not the best way to fly your asym. The major drawback with it is that it pulls the tack too far back and to leeward. Ideally you want the tack as far forward and ahead of the shadow of the main as possible. If you tack the sail off the anchor roller instead you will gain several feet of extra projection over the "tacker".
Also noted your picture shows you flying your asym wing on wing (main and asym on opposite sides). Typically the asym and main are flown on the same side allowing you to sail higher gybe angles for better boat speed.