Whisker pole and Single Handing

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davidf

davidf

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Jul 26, 2005
30
Catalina 22 Wylie
I have been sailing for about 3 years and bought a '76 Catalina 22 last summer and sail it as often as I can. I finally had a chance to hit a real sailboat shop this weekend, there isn't one within 200 miles of where I live. Among other things, I picked up the clip end for a Forespar whisker pole that came with my boat but was broken off. So now, what do I do with it? I've used a pole before crewing on OPB's but I'm usually single-handing or my usual crew is my 7 year old son who's more interested in scanning the seas for Pirates from the bow pulpit. In other words not much help other than the entertainment factor. Could someone offer a brief lesson on how to use this new found toy single-handing? I use the "Cajun Tiller-Tamer" which is basically a dock line cleated off each side and wrapped 3 times around the tiller. Thanks, David
 
Don Guillette

Don Guillette

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May 17, 2004
2,111
Other Catalina 30 Tucson, AZ
Whisker pole

David: My first suggestion would be to teach your son to steer. Kids love to drive and are very good at it - much better than many adults. A couple of years ago I was doing a beer can race in Long Beach on a Catalina 30. We were near the back end of the middle of the pack but going head to head with another C30. It was a race within a race and I like that kind of stuff. Anyway, we passed the other C30 at a mark rounding and I noticed there was a young person at the wheel. The other boat had problems at the rounding and we pulled ahead - way ahead and to such an extent I dismissed them not only because of the distance but additionally because of the youngster. What a mistake it was to dismiss this kid!! One of our crew casually mentioned when he looked back that the C30 was gaining on us. My first reaction was "yeah, right". When I looked back this kid was gaining and taking advantage of every shiftand driving through the chop with little loss of effort. About 10 minutes later the youngster passed us and it was not because we let them. This 13 year old was a fantastic driver and she was a GIRL. On the whisker pole, you want to use it definately on downwind and probably on any point of sail after beam reach toward a run. The point of the pole is to prevent the jib from collapsing. Wing and wing is very difficult without a pole.
 
henkmeuzelaar

henkmeuzelaar

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Jun 5, 1997
659
Coleman scanoe Irwin (ID)
Why does it have to be ME.... *666

who gets to tell Don how WRONG he is in this case!? I just noticed his post threatening to scroll into that big black hole otherwise known as "the archives", without anyone trying to explain the difference between a 13-year old and a 7-year old..... So what is a mere 6 years between (slightly aging) gentlemen?? Not much indeed. Now try to argue this point with your 13-year old daughter or granddaughter and you may be lucky to escape with your life! And for good reason: I personally know several 13-year olds who I would be happy to train as helmspersons on Rivendel II, given a plentiful supply of time, patience and MP3 player files. However, when it comes to going on the foredeck to mess with the whiskerpole, while running off, there are only a few helmspersons on this planet I am willing to trust with my life. I can assure you there are no 7-year olds in this little group. In fact, some fathers & mothers of 7-year olds are barely old enough for that job! Fair winds, Flying Dutchman
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Don, Girls aren't as mere

as they were when we were kids. I have a 12 year pld grand daugther that i would trust anywhere on my boat. That said, I have an 8 year old grand daughter that I won't let near the boat.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,354
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Makes me want to be 13 again

Henk, thanks for noting the differences. I wouldn't want to be 7 again, but 13 (not on a Friday) would be just fine! Stu
 
Don Guillette

Don Guillette

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May 17, 2004
2,111
Other Catalina 30 Tucson, AZ
Setting pole

David: I like your sons picture. It is great that he knows a lot of the names of the sail trim controls. Who knows he may be on the road to becoming a college or Olympic sailor. My advise to you, with your son on board, is to just sail wing and wing and forget the pole. I really don't trust those tiller tamers. You not only have to contend with setting the pole but you also have to unhook it at some point and both situations involve leaaving the helm. There really isn't any real tricks to setting the pole but my suggestion is you develop your proceedure when you have an another adult on board.
 
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