reaching strutts and afterguys, help!

[Brian]

I have a whisker pole I use only from time to time. I just read a post that talks about the type of pole I have, it turns out I have a reaching strutt, or a pole that uses a reaching strutt. I didn't totally understand what was going on. I only use the pole on my headsail going downwind, and I don't have a spinnaker. Can anyone tell me how I am supposed to be setting up the pole and an afterguy? I shove the end of the pole with the sheave through one of the loops created by the sheets at the clew and use the sheets to keep the pole just off the shrouds. It has worked fine for my uses, but I would like to start racing eventually and would appreciate any advice on the best way to use the pole, and running an afterguy. I will be racing cruising class so I am more concerned with headsail use than spinnaker use at this time. Thanks!

 

[Joe Barrett]

Too Short!

The pole you are using is too short to project the Genoa downwind. While it is certainly better than no pole you will do much better with an extendable pole. Some Phrf fleets limit pole lenght to 100% of the "J" measurement. Here on the West Coast of Florida we can go 150% of J. My J measurement on my Catalina 320 is 12.03 making max pole extension of 18'. I use a Forespar 12-18 Line control pole which extends from 12' to 18'. We put the pole up whenever the wind is aft of the beam, shorter for Broad Reach, all the way extended to 18" for Wing and Wing DDW sailing.I don't use a Spinnaker either but race alot in Non-Spin and always use the pole to our advantage.We usually race with a 155% Genoa.

 

[Bill Murray]

No afterguy

Also there is no fore guy or after guy generally when using a whisker pole with a genoa. get some absic instruction materials on how a spinaker is set up with a pole and you will see all teh parts you are referring to.With a whisker pole you can get much less fancy. On my dad's old ketch we literally used teh pike pole (baot hook) for a whisker pole -- it worked!Bill Murray

 

[Joe Ford]

whisker pole

You do not mention the size of your boat. On my c27 I rig the spinnaker pole on the 150 or the shorter whisker pole on the 110. The spin pole is heavier and will pull down on the headsail leech, especially in light air, so I set up the topping lift so I can control the twist. I don't use an afterguy, but I do rig the foreguy attached to the outside end of the pole. Besides more stability and control it keeps the pole off the shrouds. Regarding the whisker pole, since it is usually used in stronger wind on the 110, I haven't needed a topping lift, but I still like to rig a foreguy for stablility.