Running downwind

[Jim Willis]

Boom brake, and pole

the best thing I ever bought for my Gulf 32 was a drum-tyhpe boom brake that non only makes single handed jibing easy, but accidental jibes avoidabel or non-consewuential.I also got a foam luff (N. Sails) for my genoa to minimise wrinkling when partially furled (=reefed) and a pole that was made in Australia (In think) I think Franzen is the name. REgardless the pole end "plugs in" to a similar socket that means you get the pole attached the the sail, then put the endo fo the pole adjacent to the socket. It then Pops in by itself. This of course, stopped that tqwisting and flapping problem.I used both these items when single handing on a very broad reach coming to HI. ALW

 

[Tom Roberts]

Down Wind is fun

I race & cruise with my Morgan 24. I have been using asym spinnakers for both the last 5 years even when sailing alone. Using my autopilot & a retrieving line attached to the tack & the sheet line I can bring it down from the cockpit. Hoisting is just as easy. Lately I have added a test rig which acts like a sprit to get a larger asym spinnaker out from under the main has worked better even for the helm. Plus the sails are cheaper as I have found that a used Melges 24 chute works great.

 

[Charlie]

A good solution , Jose

A very good solution, Jose. I am rigging a Hunter 23.5 with a whisker pole and a working jib for downwind. I have the pulleys attached to the mast raising eyes on the port and starboard stanchions, these eyes are mounted low and with 3 deck screws so they should hold. The lines then go to 2 deck mounted pulleys mounted about 18 inches in front of mast on the port side,then back to the cockpit and can be turned around the winches easily when in use.

 

[Steve Ullrich]

Rig the wisker pole

Prior Lake isn't a huge lake so jibing on a broad reach is usually the best! On larger bodies I rig the genny with a wisker pole as shown in this pic I found on the Internet somewhere last year....

 

[SailboatOwners.com]

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 10/20/2002:When sailing downwind I'm most likely to: 52% Sail wing and wing30% Broad reach and jibe to my destination 12% Use a spinnaker06% Sail with main alone1164 owners responding

 

[Palmer King]

B&R downwind trick

Discovered by a Hobie racer, and modified for Hunter 290 B&R after some testing.You can convert the broad reach to a port or starboard run by reefing the main to second reef which uncovers the jib. The main will now go pretty far out before touching the shrouds.Force the jib over so you're wing on wing, then start slowly pulling the main in. As the main comes in, steer to keep it from jibing, and it will scoop wind into the jib and hold it up. I've found I can hold about 30 degrees off the wind fairly easily with a wing-on-wing effect. I'm not moving as fast as a broad reach, but may be sailing a considerably shorter distance.

 

[Palmer King]

B&R downwind trick

Discovered by a Hobie racer, and modified for Hunter 290 B&R after some testing.You can convert the broad reach to a port or starboard run by reefing the main to second reef which uncovers the jib. The main will now go pretty far out before touching the shrouds.Force the jib over so you're wing on wing, then start slowly pulling the main in. As the main comes in, steer to keep it from jibing, and it will scoop wind into the jib and hold it up. I've found I can hold about 30 degrees off the wind fairly easily with a wing-on-wing effect. I'm not moving as fast as a broad reach, but may be sailing a considerably shorter distance.