hunter 376 on a run with swept back spreaders
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I assume you have the B&R rig, which incorporates the swept back rudders and maybe no backstay. In my opinion, this is not the greatest configuration. I personally like back stays, especially if sailing in big water. The B&R rig has been around for decades and Selden Mast, the supplier of Hunter spars of late, uses this rig based on the design of the boat. The rig itself is quite good and strong and Selden, a great mast builder (who has several styles) is a great company. But, back to your question......my answer is you can't. At least you cannot sail dead down wind like you can with a boat with no swept back spreaders or spreaders that are not swept back as severely. This is one of the drawbacks of the B&R rig. Hunter sales people will say you don't ever sail down wind, but you gybe down wind as that is faster because it increases the apparent wind velocity in the sails. But, what if you are sailing down a narrow channel with no gybing room? You run the risk of sailing on the lee where you can accidentally gybe the boom/main. The rig is fine sailing on any other point of sail, but in my opinion not so DDW (dead down wind).
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It sails fine downwind and never had a problem going downwind in a channel. I never sail any boat wing on wing; many studies show it is the slowest point of sail. And it is a nuisance and boring because you have to pay attention so that there is no accidental jibe.
Allan
Allan
My B&R rig does have a backstay.. If constrained to run downwind, main is let out to barely touch the padded spreader tip. A preventer is rigged.. The jib can be poled out opposite side so that the air is directed into it from the mainsail which is around 45 degrees off centerline. if running a long time, the spinnaker is flown.. The B&R downwind problems aren't nearly as limiting as reported.
I agree with Kloudie, the limitations are grossly exagerated. The boats sail as good downwind as the ones with straight spreaders. Only as you approach Dead Downwind does the rig looses most efficiency but the the question then is; why woulod you want to sail DDW. It is the slowest point of sail and you would be flirting real close with an accidental jibe or the death roll. Veer a few degrees on either jibe and you can be sailing efficiently. The lack of a backstay has allowed Hunter to install a massive roach on the main allowing it to produce more power. Whenever running we set up a preventer for safety in case of lapse of concentration or wind shifts.
Of course you can sail DDW on a 376. I do it all the time whenever the need arises.
Unless it is blowing hard it is undoubtedly faster to sail at 160° and 'tack downwind'.
I even let the autopilot do it too.
When DDW there is no proper airflow over the mainsail so it only acts like a 'barn door'. In this case the projected area is only 13% less than if it had been out at 90°.
Also I have marked my mainsheet at the jam cleat so the boom is just held off the shrouds.
The helmsman needs to pay attention as always but he still needs to get by the lee by 60° before a gybe is induced and all the usual warning signals are present such as everything going quiet as the sail loses power just before the gybe.
Any distance DDW and it is better to rig a preventer as is normal for older style rigs with 'straight' spreaders.
When the mainsail is let out until the boom almost touches the shrouds the sail touches the spreaders where the battens come into contact. This wears small ½" diameter holes in the batten pockets. I used to repair these with self adhesive sail tape until I realised they were only in the double cloth of the pocket and they never grew any larger.
And I am still using my original mainsail from 1996!
Unless it is blowing hard it is undoubtedly faster to sail at 160° and 'tack downwind'.
I even let the autopilot do it too.
When DDW there is no proper airflow over the mainsail so it only acts like a 'barn door'. In this case the projected area is only 13% less than if it had been out at 90°.
Also I have marked my mainsheet at the jam cleat so the boom is just held off the shrouds.
The helmsman needs to pay attention as always but he still needs to get by the lee by 60° before a gybe is induced and all the usual warning signals are present such as everything going quiet as the sail loses power just before the gybe.
Any distance DDW and it is better to rig a preventer as is normal for older style rigs with 'straight' spreaders.
When the mainsail is let out until the boom almost touches the shrouds the sail touches the spreaders where the battens come into contact. This wears small ½" diameter holes in the batten pockets. I used to repair these with self adhesive sail tape until I realised they were only in the double cloth of the pocket and they never grew any larger.
And I am still using my original mainsail from 1996!
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