Reaching in light air

[Alan]

On a beam reach with the breeze diminishing to maybe 5 to 7 knots. The pole is being eased toward the headstay. Here's the question: Do you raise the pole to allow the luff of the spinnaker to fall off to leeward? Or do you lower the pole and tighten the luff for a finer entry? Which one of these will produce better boat speed and which one will allow you to sail closer to the breeze should it go further forward?

 

[Seattle Scott]

Alan, I go down with the pole

as low as it will go and not foul in the pulpit.

 

[Bill Mcdonough]

KEEP IT LOW

Keep it low, and this will keep the knot speed appreciable. Good luck. Does anyone have any experience with the 25 - we are looking to buy a new boat.

 

[mike c]

I go low

Alan, I put the pole down to get a finer entry. Think about what an asymetrical kite would look like on a sprit boat. Reaching and getting tighter boat angles, the A kite almost looks like a big colorful genny with the foot pulled tighter