About a foot up the luff from the tack of my cruising spinnaker is a permanently attached shackle. I don't attach anything to it, and it just hangs off the sail. Most of my experiance has been with symmetrical chutes, and I have yet to see another asym with hardware like this. Does anyone know what it is for?
What's This Shackle On My Asymmetrical Spinnaker
- Thread starter Dylan Ross
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Hummm, thats strange, but I have a guess
None of the Asym Spinnakers I've seen have it. But I will hazard a guess. Does it have a strong point and lots of reinforcement on its attachment point with the shackle? Maybe thats where you can attach it to your front stay to keep it from falling off downwind when you are sailing closer to the wind. Typically you attach via parrel beads or the ATN tacker(I just use my tack point grommet) http://www.neilprydesails.com/catalog/products/bead.htm http://www.atninc.com/tacker.html
None of the Asym Spinnakers I've seen have it. But I will hazard a guess. Does it have a strong point and lots of reinforcement on its attachment point with the shackle? Maybe thats where you can attach it to your front stay to keep it from falling off downwind when you are sailing closer to the wind. Typically you attach via parrel beads or the ATN tacker(I just use my tack point grommet) http://www.neilprydesails.com/catalog/products/bead.htm http://www.atninc.com/tacker.html
How do you attach the tack now?
I have a web strap about 2 ft long on the tack with a bronze jib hank on it. On the tack there is another ring. I run the strap thru a ring on my furled head sail then back up and clip it on to the ring. I use one loop if we are off the wind and more if we are reaching. I don't like to have the tack of the sail lower than the top of the pulpit as I think that is asking for a rip on something...
I have a web strap about 2 ft long on the tack with a bronze jib hank on it. On the tack there is another ring. I run the strap thru a ring on my furled head sail then back up and clip it on to the ring. I use one loop if we are off the wind and more if we are reaching. I don't like to have the tack of the sail lower than the top of the pulpit as I think that is asking for a rip on something...
It's for attaching....
the sail to the forestay. If you have a furled headsail, it would attach to a dacron sleeve or parrel beads wrapped around the furled sail. Experiment with the different trim settings to see whether you like the sail clipped on or not. If you don't have one, rig an adjustable tackline that you can control from the cockpit. You'll have a lot more trim options. My rule is: as the wind moves aft raise the tackline (fuller sail), the closer to the wind the lower the tackline(flatter sail).
the sail to the forestay. If you have a furled headsail, it would attach to a dacron sleeve or parrel beads wrapped around the furled sail. Experiment with the different trim settings to see whether you like the sail clipped on or not. If you don't have one, rig an adjustable tackline that you can control from the cockpit. You'll have a lot more trim options. My rule is: as the wind moves aft raise the tackline (fuller sail), the closer to the wind the lower the tackline(flatter sail).
I use the ATN Tacker, this is extra
The Tacker attaches to the tack via shackle. This hardware just hangs off the leading eadge a few inches above the tack. It is attached through a reinforced grommit. I could use it as the tack point but the foot of the sail would fly loose and may ruin the sail in heavy winds.
The Tacker attaches to the tack via shackle. This hardware just hangs off the leading eadge a few inches above the tack. It is attached through a reinforced grommit. I could use it as the tack point but the foot of the sail would fly loose and may ruin the sail in heavy winds.
Think about it... what else would it be?
Maybe it allows you to keep the sleeve on with the tack pulled down very low near the drum. Leave the tackline attached to the tack and try connecting the other shackle to the tacker. In heavy weather I wouldn't have the sail up anyway, but it may make it easier to handle the sail with separate shackles. Try sailing without the tacker or sleeve attached, when going on a broad reach. Have you called the sailmaker? what is his explanation.
Maybe it allows you to keep the sleeve on with the tack pulled down very low near the drum. Leave the tackline attached to the tack and try connecting the other shackle to the tacker. In heavy weather I wouldn't have the sail up anyway, but it may make it easier to handle the sail with separate shackles. Try sailing without the tacker or sleeve attached, when going on a broad reach. Have you called the sailmaker? what is his explanation.
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