Whisker Pole

[Jonathan Romero]

I just purchased a Forespar Whisker Pole for my 25. Thought I was ready to do some great downwind sailing but then I read that I need to rig a topping lift for the pole. Does anyone have any idea how to do this?? Hopefully you guys have pictures to go with the explanation.Thanks,JonathanO'Day 25"My Amy"

 

[Paul Mieszczenski]

Not for the jib

Jonathan, The topping lift is necessary for flying a spinaker but not for the jib. The jaw just goes through the clew ring or the loop in the sheet and holds the sail out for max exposure downwind. There might an advantage to sail shape in very light air but probably not worth the cost. PM

 

[Jonathan Romero]

Poling out

The pole goes in the clew ring?? I thought it goes on the sheet and the weight of the pole holds it firm. As far as sequence goes, do I hook the pole to the mast 1st, then telescope the pole out to meet the clew?? Or do I sheet in the headsail, hook up, then hook to the mast??What do yo recommend?Thanks,JonathanOday 25"My Amy"

 

[Vic]

RE Ring

some sail makers sew a steel ring at the clew ... that works a lot better than the pressed on grommets with the end of the wisker pole. But there has to be a half dozen ways to make it work.You may want to try attaching the clew to the pole first then to the mast ... really depends on what you can reach and how steady the boat is going downwind. Actually you might find that a downhaul from the center of the pole to the fore deck might be more valuable than a topping lift in light winds. A lot of that depends on how high your clew is on the genny. Other than that you can place a block about 12 feet up the mast to a small block that would run the topping lift possibly to a hole in the outboard wiskerpole fitting. The other end would go to a cleat on the mast.Vic "Seven"