spinnaker

[walt]

At some point in my sailing "career", Im thinking I need to try a spinnaker but have little knowlege of them.

What I understand is that the spinnaker is used for downwind to almost reaching and is generally used in lighter air?

How do they work on a water ballast 26 classic? What is the hassle factor to deploy - do you always need crew for setup? How well do they handle gusty wind? Risky if you get cought with one up in high wind from for example a thunder storm? Easy to drop? How much do you gain over just always using a Genoa?

I probably need to try and crew on a boat using a spinnaker this summer to figure out the details but am just wondering about the "application" at the moment.

 

[Justin_NSA]

I'm in the same boat (pun intended). My 26S came with a spinnaker but near as I can figure the boat doesn't have the hardware to properly deploy and manage the sail. e.g. there should be some turning blocks in the cockpit to control the sheets.

 

[caguy]

Walt, are you talking about a spinaker or an asymetrical spinnaker (also called a genaker)?
There is a big difference in the hassel factor not to mention hardware, deployment,... ect..
The diagram posted by Justin is for the asymetrical, which is much easier to handle. I use it solo (that would be me and my autopilot) with no problems. Using a dousing sock makes it very simple. The biggest risk is having to go up on deck for the set up.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

my .02

Asemetrical or drifter is the way to go. gennaker is one brand name, better for reaching, more points of sail.

The water balast (in my conditions), is a pain to run directly down wind.. (boat wants to wipe out, very rolly)...


I crew on a 35' r/c and run the (snake) pit. I'd say you need a minimum of 4 to run a symetrical spiniker w/ a pole.

(one to drive the boat, one to fly the shute, one to trim the pole and grind for the shute, and one on main sheet)...
-ok, maybe the skipper can run the main sheet too. (3 min)

but w/ the aysmetrical you could run it with 3, 2 if you have a sock, to contain it when you jybe.

unless racing, stay away from the symetrical (tri radial) designs...

 

[Robspan]

I agree with Mr. Bill. To fly a regular spinnaker, you need a pole, two spinnaker sheets, a free halyard, a topping lift and a downhaul. Not to mention at least two people to tend it.

Justin, if you already have a spinnaker, fly it like an asymmetrical, ie tack it to the bow with a line that has a snap shackle. Also invest in a dousing sock. I'd advise not using the main for the first few times until you have a feel for the sail. The main can blanket it easily if you don't have a pole.

I think the only time a spinnaker would be of any use would be going downwind or nearly so in light air. In any breeze or with the wind near or forward of the beam, there would be little or no advantage, unless you want a joyride. Come to think of it, even going dead downwind, if you pole out the genny and go wing and wing, on our light boats, I doubt you'd go much slower than under a real spinnaker.

 

[novelman17130]

When I bought my 1971 Venture it had a spinnaker and spinnaker pole. I soon had it recut as a asyammetrical and purchased a dousing sock. Now I can fly it as a gennaker as well as run it dead down wind (ask Frank). This is possible by being able to pull the tack tight for up wind sailing and letting it out to fly forward of the headstay when sailing down wind. Some very low wind days I use it for the entire day of sailing.
Noveman

 

[oreana123]

I fly a symmetrical spinnaker on my 87 D model. I need one person who knows how to sail at the helm, and one person up front who also knows what they are doing. I use a turtle of my own design, and am able to set the spinnaker with a masthead halyard. I have a track on the front of my mast, to allow adjustment of pole height.

Because of the lightweight nature of my Macs rig, I do not need a spinnaker topping lift. Because the foot of the spinnaker is free, I can jibe the boat and let the spinnaker fly around the bow. I have turning blocks on my cockpit coaming.

I have set my spinnaker alone, by tying off the tiller, but only in very light airs. The fun of a spinnaker must be experienced

 

[Robspan]

Oreana,
How much breeze can the boat take when you're reaching under spinnaker? Does it broach easily?

 

[oreana1234]

I only set a spinnaker in winds less than 15 kts, if that. My boat has not broached, which I attribute to low wind forces and the fact that I have an Idasailor rudder and daggerboard, which affords me better control of the boat. In winds higher than 15 kts, I use the mainsail and a headsail hanked onto the forestay. Otherwise, there is the chance of spilling my Merlot......John S

 

[Bob 04 H260]

I use an asymmetrical spinnaker on my 26S. It is a Doyle sail for a 26M so it is bit bigger than the stock one for a 26C. I installed a bail above the forestay and ran a new halyard through a block up there. It came with a bag that clips to the foredeck, I bought an ATN (http://www.atninc.com/sleeve.html) sock. I sometimes use it with a whiskerpole. I clip a small block to the bow roller bail and run a line from the cockpit to the tack. It is important to keep the bottom of the sail flat (clew and tack level). I run the sheets in front of the spinnaker so when gibing I let the sail run out in front of the boat not in front of the forestay. I have a couple of jam cleats on the cockpit coaming and clip the sheets into these. I tend to use it in light air. It is easy to use with just two of us. The first picture shows the new halyard position, second whisker pole, third on a run in the NC of Lake Huron, cam cleat on coaming track.
Bob

 

[Robspan]

John S,
Glad to see you have your priorities right. I used to race a lot with the same 6 guys and one or our sayings was "One hand for the boat and one hand for the drink." When the boat was about to broach we would dump the spinnaker, staysail, main and not spill a drop. Of course, it took a lot of practice - and spills - to get to that level.

 

[rdethman]

I have a 26C that came with the cruising spinnaker - I have flown it a couple of times with my partner - too difficult by myself. It is a lot of fun and relatively easy to fly - I have a pole, but have yet to use it?