Safest Suggested Spinnaker Drop

[Ducati]

Dropping a spinnaker has always given me grief especially in stronger winds so
I'm going to get to work and practice over the next month. I'm looking for the safest (dummy down version) on how to douse it in stronger winds....with a short or double handed crew. Any suggested U-Tube versions that you know of would also be appreciated.

 

[JerryA]

Solo Dousing

When I sail solo and use my s-spin, I cover it with the main and pull it into the cabin under the boom while keeping some tension on the halyard so it doesn't get away.

JerryA

 

[tommays]

Easy is not really on the list when your taking down a 35' boats masthead spinaker in a big blow

If you do need easy that its and A-sail with a sock

BUT the biggest single item is steering a course that allows the mainsail to blanket it and unload it enough that it not trying to pull the crew back off the boat

 

[hutch5151]

Check out this web site http://j44resolute.com/coachscornerpage.html. It covers practically every set and douse possible. You may be looking at the letter box douse.
This is also great for all your crew to study.

 

[alexco38]

ATN spinnaker sock?

 

[RichH]

For 'normal' conditions, the obvious answer is to blanket the spinn behind the main, douse the sock or furl the spinn, then drop the sock + spinn or drop the furler + spinn.

In sudden and unexpected heavy winds .... The 'safest' without a sock or spin furler ... is to unfurl the jib/genoa & tighten the jibsheet, and with the jib + Main 'blanketing' the spinn, and with either the tackline pulled tight or spinn pole full down & the spinn sheet pulled tight, and the spinn halyard 'slightly' released and so the head of the spinn and its halyard does not become tangled in the genoa top swivel ..... then TACK through the eye of the wind and heave-to (the spinn now blown 'onto' the windward side of both genoa + main).
To lower simply 'peel' (pull) the spinn down from the windward side of the jib/main and into a turtle or down a hatch, etc. while slowly releasing the spinn halyard.
To do this you should have a spinnaker crane at the mast head - lessens the chance of the spinn becoming wrapped or tangled in the spinn. top swivel .... and all the rigging (pre-verified) without any 'sharp' edges that would snag/tear the spinnaker during the 'peel' (pulling the spinn down along and from the windward side of the genoa/main). Then reef the main, etc. etc.
This is easiest to do on a fractional rig and short LP spinn, but can be done on a mast head BUT you have to verify this will work during 'light wind' conditions before you attempt it in heavy winds. This isnt a 'racing' technique, its a survival technique. You must practice and verify that this heave-to technique will work on a boat in 'benign' conditions before attempting to do it in blammo conditions. A good characteristic that when after you heave-to the boat will be 'more quiet' during the 'peel'.
I do this a lot with my 'Scows' (no socks, no furlers) when single handing and I get overwhelmed with a sym-spinn up. I also occasionally heave-to to drop my immense A-kite on my crab-crusher. The rigging/mast, etc. HAS to be 'clean' to do this AND you must carefully watch the genoa top swivel so that the spinn doesnt get wrapped up in the top swivel/genoa 'roll'.

 

[Cayennita]

If you are shorthanded then the J 44 system, which is a standard system for symmetrical spinnakers will not work. Most of the smaller boats do not have lazy sheets and guys. I have been using a "belly button" take down line since the late 70's. Have a sailmaker sew a reinforced patch with a tab around the middle of the chute and velcro strips along half of the foot if it is asymmetrical. Attach a strong light weight line to the tab and bring it down to the foot and down the forward hatch or over/under the boom and main hatch. If it is down the forward hatch and long enough, the sail can be brought down by blowing the halyard about half way and pulling the line from the cockpit. Then ease guy followed by sheet as the halyard is eased in a controlled manner. As long as both the sheet and guy are taught, the chut can not get away from you.
Look at pictures of the large racers with asymmetricals, you'll see that take down line. I was aboard a TP 65 and it was a very easy controlled take down.