single-handing a spinnaker

[Berndahle]

I would like some extra power in the lull of summer on the Chesapeake Bay (those days of <5 kts of wind). I usually single-hand my Hunter 36 and wondering if I would be able to handle an asymmetrical spinnaker with a sock or would a gennaker be a better choice? I have VERY little experience in flying a spinnaker and that was with two people on board.

A potential solution could also be to replace my 100% jib with an oversized sail which would help in most situations, not just downwind, but would be easy to handle. I'd be interested in your thoughts.

Bernd

 

[RichH]

A 'general purpose' Asymmetrical (doesnt need to be a 170%LP, can be 'smaller') will be the better choice for the 'doldrum times' on the Ches.

Several items will make short handing an Asym. spinn a 'breeze'
1. Auto pilot
2. Spinnaker 'furler' ... "Roll Gen" or equivalent - pricey! www.oceansailing.ca/bamar-rollgen.htm. If budget is a problem then a Spinnaker "sock" or 'chute scoop' with the sock's control lines runback to the cockpit .... will promote more actual use for the spinn.

 

[Berndahle]

Budget is ALWAYS a problem . The Rollgen looks pretty slick but I think sock would be more my speed considering I'll already have the considerable cost of a spinn and gear. I'll look at some used options.

 

[Eric M]

Flying a spin in <5 knots can be a pretty challenging proposition. The kite will need constant attention to keep it full and drawing. Every boat wake, every lull, every boat that passes to windward of you will try to collapse the sail. Make sure to get a kite of the appropriate lightweight material for the conditions you plan to use it in. Likewise for your spin sheets, as light as possible will be your friend.

 

[Deadline]

Bowsprit

I can't seem to upload it, but I've got pix of an inexpensive bowsprit to extend the asym spinnaker. The idea is to have the sheets already deployed on each side, as well as the tack line, all of which make it easy to fly. I just flew mine today on the York River. By haviing everything already set up, it encourages you to fly. Email me at bodonovan@vagazette.com for pix and details.

 

[Joe]

Single handling is easier when the controls needed for a change are close together. So... whether you use a sock or not... arrange your halyards, sock control line, tackline and sheet so they are close to each other. This doesn't necessarily mean leading them all aft. You could do everything at the mast while the autopilot steers the boat. On a 36 footer the trip forward will be much safer than on say, a 27 footer, for instance. The advantage is you can set up the spin, hoist the sock, deploy the chute, adjust the tackline and gross adjust the trim with just one trip to the mast. On the douse you reverse the process and drop the sail down the hatch with one trip forward also.

The key is to have adequate cleats on, or near, the mast. But most of all you need a plan. On a smaller boat the sock is not necessary, it actually makes things more complicated, but on a 36 footer it will help....There is another more effecient method that uses the "takedown" line concept... It works best with a sprit though, so I'll not go into detail.

On my boat, I have a small clam cleat near the mast to hold the tackline until I can get back to the cockpit. The open clam cleat allows me to just snap the line out for further adjustment. I also installed a couple of larger horn cleats so I could hoist from the mast, and a place to tie off the sock control line. The sheet is preset before going forward, but it would be easy to run it forward for some gross adjustment too.

So... figure it out ahead of time... then practice at the dock... moor your boat so it's facing downwind ...securely.. then set and douse a few times to see where the problems will be... then make your adjustments. Don't wait till you get out on the water to try it for the first time... that's what inexperienced sailors do... Experienced sailors practice first so there're no surprises later.

 

[alexco38]

Behind the JIB

Just like to add:

Set the pole first pointing ahead slightly off the head-stay, with the guy line cleated off.

The Guy hooked to one foot of the Spinnaker.

The sheet hooked to the other foot of the Spinnaker.

Raise the Spinnaker (with sock if you have them) behind the Jib or Gen. There is no force so easy to hoist. Pull up the sock if you have them.

Now get back to the cockpit and have fun.

I learned from a couple of guys in the club that single hand Spinnaker on regular basis.

 

[Sandy Stone]

On the other hand...

I like spinnakers as much as anybody - I installed a sprit pole on my previous boat, a Pearson 32, and have been known to fly the chute singlehanded from time to time. But still, if you are sailing in a light wind area and your only jib is 100%, I think going to a 150% would be easier and cheaper, and the performance increase would probably surprise you. Try asking a local sailmaker for advice - remarkably, most of them will actually recommend what is best for you and not necessarily what will make them the most money.

 

[Joe]

Just like to add:

Set the pole first pointing ahead slightly off the head-stay, with the guy line cleated off.

The Guy hooked to one foot of the Spinnaker.

The sheet hooked to the other foot of the Spinnaker.

Raise the Spinnaker (with sock if you have them) behind the Jib or Gen. There is no force so easy to hoist. Pull up the sock if you have them.

Now get back to the cockpit and have fun.

I learned from a couple of guys in the club that single hand Spinnaker on regular basis.

I'm sorry to seem critical here, but, that's confusing to me and I know how to fly a spinnaker. I can't imagine what Berndahle must be thinking.......... how many feet does your spinnaker have, anyway? When you bring a pole into the equation you must fully explain it... topping lift, foreguy, etc...

 

[Wanderer138]

If all you want is to keep the boat moving in light air, why not try a mainsail made from spinnaker cloth? It will be far easier to manage single-handed than an asymmetrical. There was an article on the subject in "Good Old Boat" a few years ago.

Peter
H23 "Raven"
Pearson Wanderer 30

 

[Berndahle]

Thanks all for the replies! If at all, I'd get an asymmetrical, so I don't intend on using a spinnaker pole. I was thinking about a larger genoa as an alternative as well, obviously that would be less efficient downwind than a spin but more versatile (and wouldn't require any additional gear other than the sail). Not sure I understand the main from spinnaker cloth idea. I have a mast-furled main so I probably don't want to start taking that down and replacing with a different main.

 

[Wanderer138]

Hi Berndahle:

The nylon main is specifically intended for very light air (under 5 kt true). If memory serves me correct, it's rigged just at the head, tack and clew (no mast or boom tracks). The regular main remains in position at all times as it has to be ready to go at a moment's notice if the wind fills in. Check the article archives at the Good Old Boat website for more info.

Peter
H23 "Raven"
Pearson Wanderer 30

 

[Joe]

Thanks all for the replies! If at all, I'd get an asymmetrical, so I don't intend on using a spinnaker pole. I was thinking about a larger genoa as an alternative as well, obviously that would be less efficient downwind than a spin but more versatile (and wouldn't require any additional gear other than the sail). Not sure I understand the main from spinnaker cloth idea. I have a mast-furled main so I probably don't want to start taking that down and replacing with a different main.

Have you considered a "drifter" it's a light nylon sail cut like a #1 genoa... easy to handle with no additional rigging. http://www.ukhalsey.com/LearningCenter/encyclopedia/encyclopedia4i.asp

 

[BarryL]

Hello,

If I understand you correctly, you're looking for an easy to use, light air sail. Since you are short handed, you don't want to make frequent sail changes.

This sounds like a use for a 'code 0' sail mounted on a free flying furler. One of the recent issues of Practical Sailor had a test / review of the furlers. They weren't crazy money, but you do need a sail.

Something like this:
http://www.ravencruise.com/North Sails G-0 article.htm

Note that I have nothing to do with north sails, that's just an example.

On my Newport 28 I used to fly an asymmetric spinnaker with sock by myself. With a decent autopilot it was pretty simple to do.

Barry

 

[Tom Monroe]

I think the 170% drifter is probably what you need to try.

As a cheap alternative (I'm a low-budget sailer), try this. I sail a C27. I bought an old spinnaker sized for a C22. On real light air days, I drop the main, and sail this spinnaker just like a jib. It fillls in the lightest of breezes and because it is tacked down I can control it easily when the wind is shifting all over. Don't need the expense of a pole or an asym.

Key points:
1. MUCH smaller than normal for the boat.
2. Drop it early when you're single handing.
3. Not fancy, just gets you moving enough to annoy the flies.

Tom

 

[shemandr]

An asymmetric spinnaker is totally reasonable to fly solo in less than five knots. Its very reasonable in higher wind if its pretty flat shape.
We borrowed one just to try and make the tack our anchor blah blah blah. It was fine and made the boat move. You just want to get it down before the seabreeze (15 to 18 kts.) comes in.
Auto pilot is a big help. Mine's name is Kitty and she's part of the crew.
Several friends I know use a symmetical on Wed PM races, solo, and have little problems. They do take a wide path around marks but otherwise sail a good race. If you're are organized and the sail controls are handy and the wind is light it is very do-able.
Of course, if you are nicer to your crew you shouldn't have to sail alone.

 

[Joe]

Hello,


Something like this:
http://www.ravencruise.com/North Sails G-0 article.htm


Barry

Dat's right! What an awesome cruising boat..... Thanks for that link Barry.

 

[Berndahle]

So to summarize what I've heard here, I should be able to handle a cruising spin myself but a code 0 sail (sometimes called Drifter or UPS at Doyle...everyone probably has their own name) might be a good alternative as well. Oh and that I have to be nicer to my crew .

 

[seadaddler]

UPC

I got a used UPC with a sock on my 2007 H-36 and I would recommend a second crew first time sailing it and go on line and watch some vedio's of how to fly a spinnaker.
I don't have info with me now but I have a DVD from one of the sailmakers on instructing you how to do all with a spinnaker and did find a great instuctional vedio from north or doyle showing how to pack and rigging a spinnaker on a sailboat.
I did use my UPC 2 times only because I have never used one before and waiting for a friend to come show me and decided to go it with one other crew helper and it was fun but the wind was not helping at times and did not want to over do it first time newbie,it was great and will try again soon,I did use it on the way back from Key West and it was great until we lost the wind and had to motor.
I suggest that like me newbie with a spinnaker the first few times until you get the hang of how to rig to have help rigging and also use it in light wind,it can over power the boat when the wind kicks up and great fun I had the first time the boat took off like a bullet.
Nick

 

[Capt. Kermie]

I just bought a new cruising genneker from Hyde sails distributor in California (Judy Blumhorst), I have not flown it yet because I only just got my hands on it two days ago. It comes with the snuffer and appears to be very simple to operate and it was also within my budget range for both pieces. Here is the video on assembly & operation, I can't wait to try it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFAzEc1UTaw