Hello everybody. I have many questions about spinnakers. Who raises the spinnaker on a boat with a crew of 2? Do i need to run the Spinnaker Halyard to the cockpit? Can one person raise a spinnaker? Is it really Difficult for 2 people to control such a monsterous sail? Does the Head of the Spinnaker attach to the Forestay? I know its a lot of questions and the books i have arent very specific ( i have 12 sailing books including The Annapolis Guide to Seamanship) but i am relatively new to the world of sailing. If you could help me out that would be great! Thanks, Matt Miss Ruby Lee, Oday 27
Spinnaker Troubles
- Thread starter Mattie
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Mattie, if you have an asym spin you can fly...
it solo as long as you have an autopilot or some way to steer the boat while you're launching and trimming it. It makes it handy to have the halyard and clew sheets in the cockpit, but not mandatory. Check out this site's sail loft chandlery for spin rigging, launching and trimming. Lots of good information. If you have a sym spin, which requires a pole, then you need two people minimum. Terry
it solo as long as you have an autopilot or some way to steer the boat while you're launching and trimming it. It makes it handy to have the halyard and clew sheets in the cockpit, but not mandatory. Check out this site's sail loft chandlery for spin rigging, launching and trimming. Lots of good information. If you have a sym spin, which requires a pole, then you need two people minimum. Terry
Two crew
Spinnaker halyard to cockpit is not necessary, though convenient for the drop. During the set the helmsman steers with his legs (tiller rig only, heh heh) and uses free hands to trim sheet and guy. Crew can stay forward and trim the pole after the set then back to the cockpit to trim the chute while the driver steers. On the drop the crew can blow the halyard (make sure it's flaked out so it'll run free) then the helm releases the guy and reels in the sheet. Crew then goes to rail and gets control of the sail as it comes aft. One person can easily raise the spinnaker. Jump the halyard up quickly while the sail is behind the main and jib. With the guy already half way to the pole trim the sheet as the halyard goes up to keep the sail from twisting. The chute will fill when the helmsman heads up and the pole/guy is pulled forward. It is not difficult for two people to control the chute, however, it is important that both people understand what is going on. I suggest you practice at the dock. The Annapolis Seamanship video "day sailing and racing" has an excellent demonstration of this practice session. Tie your boat in a downwind position and practice sets, jibes and takedowns. With no other sails up, it's relatively safe. The head of the spinnaker does not attach to the forestay. The head is attached to the spinnaker halyard only. On a masthead rig the halyard should be run through a swivel block attached to the masthead fitting in front of the forestay. This allows the sail to rotate from side to side withoud fouling on the forestay. The aforementioned video and Tom Whidden's excellent book, "the art and science of Sails" are good sources on basic spinnaker handling. Other videos I highly recommend are "the shape of speed" amd "sail trim".
Spinnaker halyard to cockpit is not necessary, though convenient for the drop. During the set the helmsman steers with his legs (tiller rig only, heh heh) and uses free hands to trim sheet and guy. Crew can stay forward and trim the pole after the set then back to the cockpit to trim the chute while the driver steers. On the drop the crew can blow the halyard (make sure it's flaked out so it'll run free) then the helm releases the guy and reels in the sheet. Crew then goes to rail and gets control of the sail as it comes aft. One person can easily raise the spinnaker. Jump the halyard up quickly while the sail is behind the main and jib. With the guy already half way to the pole trim the sheet as the halyard goes up to keep the sail from twisting. The chute will fill when the helmsman heads up and the pole/guy is pulled forward. It is not difficult for two people to control the chute, however, it is important that both people understand what is going on. I suggest you practice at the dock. The Annapolis Seamanship video "day sailing and racing" has an excellent demonstration of this practice session. Tie your boat in a downwind position and practice sets, jibes and takedowns. With no other sails up, it's relatively safe. The head of the spinnaker does not attach to the forestay. The head is attached to the spinnaker halyard only. On a masthead rig the halyard should be run through a swivel block attached to the masthead fitting in front of the forestay. This allows the sail to rotate from side to side withoud fouling on the forestay. The aforementioned video and Tom Whidden's excellent book, "the art and science of Sails" are good sources on basic spinnaker handling. Other videos I highly recommend are "the shape of speed" amd "sail trim".
wrong,wrong wrong!
two people can fly either a assametrical or sym kite in light to moderate air. up to about 10knots apparent. as mentioned to hoist prefeed the guy of the chute to the head stay. cleat it then helms person has only to steer,control the sheet and take up the slack on halyard as its being jumped. on the douse unless your in for some possible major league problems,trip the guy before dropping the halyard. this completely unloads the chute and it can't possibly refill on the way down. my wife and i fly ours lots and never have any problems. douse is as follows. trip the guy. hand me the bitter end of halyard,unlock the halyard. then she gets in the companionway and i lower it to her as she takes it into the companionway and below. a piece of cake. capn jim Que Pasa? Oday 30
two people can fly either a assametrical or sym kite in light to moderate air. up to about 10knots apparent. as mentioned to hoist prefeed the guy of the chute to the head stay. cleat it then helms person has only to steer,control the sheet and take up the slack on halyard as its being jumped. on the douse unless your in for some possible major league problems,trip the guy before dropping the halyard. this completely unloads the chute and it can't possibly refill on the way down. my wife and i fly ours lots and never have any problems. douse is as follows. trip the guy. hand me the bitter end of halyard,unlock the halyard. then she gets in the companionway and i lower it to her as she takes it into the companionway and below. a piece of cake. capn jim Que Pasa? Oday 30
Now that you're confused...
...try running the thing up on a slack day to get the rhythm and lines right. Do the drill a couple of times as the wind picks up. If after all this you want free pix on how to install an inexpensive bowsprit to throw the spin farther away from the main, email me at bodonovan@vagazette.com
...try running the thing up on a slack day to get the rhythm and lines right. Do the drill a couple of times as the wind picks up. If after all this you want free pix on how to install an inexpensive bowsprit to throw the spin farther away from the main, email me at bodonovan@vagazette.com
It can be easy.
I had a tiller pilot on my Cal 27-T/2 and could fly my spinaker solo up to about 10 knots of wind (that is, until I shredded the antique elephant-butt kite). About that point it can become pretty dicey and that is enough wind for cruising down wind anyway. An asymetrical cruising chute is even easier to fly shorthanded as you don't need to mess with a pole and the control lines for that. I don't believe you can learn to set, douse and fly a symetrical or radial chute very easily from reading instructions. There are a lot of little tricks to make things go well and several 'don'ts' that you would wish to avoid. If you have a radial chute, I'd suggest you hook up with a spinaker class skipper for some of the Saturday races with the Pamlico Sailing Club. Next race is #3 on Saturday April 3rd. Link to the club is below. Racing requires a crew of three, in my opinion, to get the most out a spinaker on anything over about 25 feet. Cruising is far less demanding and on a boat under about 30 feet, it can be done solo if skilled and with two if you have the basics down pat. You really don't need to trim it much then, just sail under it. Head upwind a little to set and douse which allows the main to partially blanket it and simplify the process. Have all control lines stopped so that you won't lose them if they get away from you (and they will now and then). Yet, your stopper knots have to be instantly releasable if you goof up and start 'shrimping' (dragging the spinaker filled with water). I'll be glad to meet with you some time, check out your rig and give a few pointers or give an on the water lesson if time permits. Look up www.statewidetitle.com and call me at the Greenville office if you would like to do so.
I had a tiller pilot on my Cal 27-T/2 and could fly my spinaker solo up to about 10 knots of wind (that is, until I shredded the antique elephant-butt kite). About that point it can become pretty dicey and that is enough wind for cruising down wind anyway. An asymetrical cruising chute is even easier to fly shorthanded as you don't need to mess with a pole and the control lines for that. I don't believe you can learn to set, douse and fly a symetrical or radial chute very easily from reading instructions. There are a lot of little tricks to make things go well and several 'don'ts' that you would wish to avoid. If you have a radial chute, I'd suggest you hook up with a spinaker class skipper for some of the Saturday races with the Pamlico Sailing Club. Next race is #3 on Saturday April 3rd. Link to the club is below. Racing requires a crew of three, in my opinion, to get the most out a spinaker on anything over about 25 feet. Cruising is far less demanding and on a boat under about 30 feet, it can be done solo if skilled and with two if you have the basics down pat. You really don't need to trim it much then, just sail under it. Head upwind a little to set and douse which allows the main to partially blanket it and simplify the process. Have all control lines stopped so that you won't lose them if they get away from you (and they will now and then). Yet, your stopper knots have to be instantly releasable if you goof up and start 'shrimping' (dragging the spinaker filled with water). I'll be glad to meet with you some time, check out your rig and give a few pointers or give an on the water lesson if time permits. Look up www.statewidetitle.com and call me at the Greenville office if you would like to do so.
Think about...
adding a dousing sock to your chute or order one when you buy your spinaker. It will tame the sail for easier handling. Good luck.
adding a dousing sock to your chute or order one when you buy your spinaker. It will tame the sail for easier handling. Good luck.
Thanks SOOOOOOOOO MUCH
Wow you guys rock! I am extremely (is that how you spell it?) excited to test out the Spinnaker. Thanks for all your help i really appreciate it! Happy Sailing!!!!!
Wow you guys rock! I am extremely (is that how you spell it?) excited to test out the Spinnaker. Thanks for all your help i really appreciate it! Happy Sailing!!!!!
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