Spinnaker flying

[Jerry Anderson]

Flying high

Just completed a spinnaker run this past weekend.. We were out in the Gulf and set the chute to come home.. Great ride , about eight miles..

 

[Al Carlson]

Love that chute!

We bought a slightly used 3/4-oz. asymmetric chute and added a chute scoop about a year ago.And in light airs: wow! On a reach with the chute sheeted hard to port, we hit a boat speed of 5 knots in only seven knots of wind!We tend to save the chute for really light conditions, but man is it pretty!Every time we go out now, I hope for light winds!Al Carlsons/v Wings of Dawn

 

[Tom S.]

Gotta love the

if you set it up right. Nothing to do with testosterone at all.We've had an Asym. Chute on the last two boats and with the right conditions its awesome. We don't fly it every sail, but if the winds are right and you've got more than a couple of miles to go then we'll do it. With winds below 10 knots and running aft its great. If the wind picks up, just douse the chute. BTW, I strongly recomend the ATN spinaker sleeve, it has always worked relatively flawlessy.ps. Broaching -- been there...done that on a racing boat and just starting to broach on my boat with asyms.....the worse that happened on my boat is coffee pot went flying and there were coffee grounds everywhere...blech

 

[Rob]

Flying the chute

Thanks to help with rigging questions we will fly our's for the first time this season.Pulled the UK Flasher out of the bag this weekend and unfurled in our living room.....lots O sail!.....Need a sock.for our rig, did not come with one!..does anyone recomend the plastic cone as an addition? or just the sock??thanks again for everyones help!!Rob

 

[David Foster]

I think the cone is key on our sock

nm

 

[Stephen]

the spinnaker!

We have an Asym. Chute with a experimental Furler setup and with the right conditions its awesome. We fly it nearly every sail, if the winds are right and you've got more than a few miles to go then we'll use it. With winds below 20 knots running aft & reaching its great. If the wind picks up, just furl the chute. The furler has an endless rope fitted & run to the cockpit and it has always worked relatively flawlessy since we fitted it. And even my wife puts up with it. Will post a photo soon

 

[John New]

This is the year!

Dulcinea came with a cruising asymmetrical spinnaker when I bought her two years ago, and I've been trying to figure out how to rig and set it. But now that I know my boat a bit better, this summer it's going up, one way or another! Hey Roy, can you point me towards that web site you mentioned?

 

[Doc Turner]

Every chance we get!

But - generally - we try to keep the wind below 15 kts.

 

[Joel]

I dont see what the big deal is

I really dont see what is soo great about a spinaker.....how is it different from a jib....i guess i just dont want to waste my money.

 

[Carlos Silva]

Alwayas when racing!

Even though I sometimes wonder if it is always worthwhile (over 15 Knts. true wind), but I suer enjoy it!

 

[Chris Smart]

Fun and Fear

With strong breezes and wind shifts in and around Monterey Bay, the kite is always exciting and usually fun to fly. I have both a A kite and S kite and the A kite is definitely more useful as you don't need as much crew to fly it. I am working on a pole fixed to the front of the boat and other tricks to make it even easier. The A kite is in a Flag motif and really shows up on the bay. Looking forward to many more days in the coming months.CMS

 

[Lee]

spinnaker

i can fly a spinnaker but it is a big job and needs at leats 2 people to be safe

 

[Dave McC]

Whenever it's downhill

We set the chute whenever the going is downhill and the mood fits. Our first larger (30 ft) monohull was actually named 'Chute Out'. Our Catalina 38 is a little squirrly downwind with the chute flying ... but we launch it regularly. We havnt flown an offsetting blooper, but hope to have one this summer. We even flew the chute for the 4th of July with the boat 'dressed' out. As for the dangers .... we have rounded up, rounded down ..... and (accidentally) used the chute as a shrimp seine ... even once had it sucked out of the turtle on a double-handed race when we dove into a trough and had to go back to get it so we could round the mark and set it !!! ... We even set the symetrical tri-radial off the bow without the pole to simplify the task. If You have a spinnaker .. get out there and learn to use it !!!!! Fair Winds ...

 

[Tom S.]

Joel, maybe for a fast smaller boat it doesn't

buy you alot. But on a bigger boat that doesn't do really great in light winds it can literally mean the difference between sailing and turning on the motor.And we'd rather sail.

 

[Tony Re]

Have 5 "Chutes" .. Use them 95% of time sailing

I have 5 chutes on board. My boat is a Hunter 40, 1985. I use the proper chute for the conditions or "RISK" that is required to advance our possition when Racing. Even when "single handed ..I use an older chute. Double handed races always use proper chute.  I have one half oz ($5300), two 3/4 oz chutes,(aprox $5000), one 1 1/2 oz and a 1 1/2 asymetrical/ chicken chute, ($4300). 4 are north sails and one Doyal. I race often ..Last year 25 times. Won 8 First places in fleet and won First over all, class and division in the 2002 Swiftsure cape flattery race, over 103 nautical miles and 107 boats in race. Last years Vassion Island race we were falling behind (aprox 85 boats) We put up a chute in 38 to 44 knots of wind. I have a GREAT crew including a "Whitbread" sailer. * of the crew have atleast a 35 foot boat of their own and race them off and on also. Flying the chute ..IT'S PRACTICE for the next race. If you do not practice ..You have no right entering many race which can become dangerous.  Oh by the way in the Vassion Island Race we ended up "Broaching ..or since it happened on the POLE side , we knocked the boat over, broke the toe rail, snaped the down haul etc.The crew loves the chalange. They look at me, especially when fallin behind and ask "are we racing?". My reply is as always ...OK, put up the heavy air chute and let,s go for it! There was an artical on our victory in "Knott Line" last month. Thankyou hunter. We are going back to defend our First place over all in May,2003. I will keep you posted Sailing is not only an activity but a sport and you must be prepared to be in an "EXTREEM sport at any moment. That's the thrill !! You can not get home ..or to a port fast enough when a storm comes up on you at 3 am and 50 more miles to go. Have fun ..Oh ..I used to be a cruser only ..I still cruse from port to port. 16 days recently ..and my wife and I race on other yachts at those ports. There is always skippers looking for expierenced crew at the last moment.Have Fun!!Tony RESkipper of RE-TREAT1985 Hunter 40

 

[Ron]

kite---don't have one

for my 192. should I?

 

[lml]

no friends

recently set up with all lines to cockpit, spinnaker sleeve, and lots of blocks, snapshackles, and cams, I can set up and take down single handed (note title) in three minutes, about the same time as raising main. I don't know if I really sail any faster but it sure feels cool.

 

[SailboatOwners.com]

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending March 23, 2003:The following best expresses our spinnaker use: 52% We don't have one -- yet23% We fly it whenever conditions and point of sail are right 13% We only fly it a few times a year 12% We have a spinnaker but never use it 

 

[GARY CICERELLO]

spinnaker knockdowns

Knockdowns& broaches are just a way of life on SAN FRANCISCO BAY you can't remember all of them.If you race on the bay in 20 to 35 knots of wind you will experience knockdowns.