Rigging My Cruising Spinnaker

[John Day]

I purchased a new Doyle Crusising Spinnaker after taking delivery of my Hunter 380 last spring and have flown her often and have had a great time.I've always flown her rigged according to your instructions. My question is simple and is based on a concept I saw while reading one of Dashew's books, "Practical Seamanship." Is there anything to gain by sheeting the clew through the end of the boom vice down to the deck with the rigging that was set up for my boat when I took delivery? The concept looks intriging and I think (It's been a few months since I last flew her last fall) the clew is high enough to do it.If you think it is a good idea, I'll give it a try the next time I am out and the conditions look right.D-DayHunter 380'Fox III'

 

[Julian Sandford]

Booming out

You could'nt gybe with your arrangement!I use a Selden telescopic pole which will do the cruising chute, spinnaker, and the genoa at it's 3 settings. Totally independant from mainsail!

 

[Joe B]

Pole

Where do you get a Selden telescopic pole? Have not heard of it before!

 

[Mark Ploch]

Spin

Rigging a sail out to the boom on the leeward side is good for a genoa or reacher were you are trying to flatten the camber of the sail and sheet further out board. A chute sheets very far aft and couold benifit from sheeting out on the boom if you were overpowered and trying to ease the mail out on a reach. Any other time sheetiing to the boom will actually pull the sail further to leeward and hide it behind the main. This is not what you want. Stick to the KISS principle. MArk