Line Sizing for Spin

[scoobert]

so i have a spinnaker. apparently.

however there is no line thru the block on top the mast.
or control lines.

i am not even sure where to begin.

i also have a sail bag labeled "spinnaker stay sail"

please help me with this, i am lost on this spinnaker mess.

[Hydra]

There are 2 possibilities regarding the spinnaker staysail: either it is to be set on the mizzen mast, with the tack on the windward side of the deck, or it is hoisted at the bow at the same time as the spinnaker. The shape of the sail should make this clear.

If you own a pole, then your spinnaker is probably a symmetrical one and you need:
- a halyard (going through the block at the mast head)
- 2 sheets, each going through a block at the stern
- a topping lift and a foreguy to hold the pole

If it's an assym (cruising chute), you only need a halyard, 2 sheets and a tackline, going through a block at the stem.

Here are 2 selectors for sizing these lines:
Yachting Line Selection
New England Ropes - Line Selector

Alain

[scoobert]

i do not have a pole, or a place to attach one, so i am betting on assym.
thank you

so then i can just use the 2 sheets from the genoa, the that track?
whats a tack line?

would this staysail go on the storm jib halyard or a full size one?

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by scoobert

i do not have a pole, or a place to attach one, so i am betting on assym.
thank you

so then i can just use the 2 sheets from the genoa, the that track?
whats a tack line?

would this staysail go on the storm jib halyard or a full size one?

The tack line runs from the tack of the sail to the foot of the forestay. Unlike a traditional jib/genoa, the tack is adjustable.

Yes you can use the sheets from the genoa, but chances are that they are heavier than necessary and may weigh the sail down, depending on the weight of the sail and the wind conditions. Go ahead and try them.

Not sure about your last question...do you have an inner and outer forestay? The assym should be hoisted to the masthead.

If you want tips on flying an assym, look on YouTube. It's a bit different than most sails. Much easier if you have a sock for it.

[Teknav]

Hiya Scoob! Are you going to sail your square rigger while you're on the hard?

Mauritz
Going to behave now!

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by Suijin

The tack line runs from the tack of the sail to the foot of the forestay. Unlike a traditional jib/genoa, the tack is adjustable.

Yes you can use the sheets from the genoa, but chances are that they are heavier than necessary and may weigh the sail down, depending on the weight of the sail and the wind conditions. Go ahead and try them.

Not sure about your last question...do you have an inner and outer forestay? The assym should be hoisted to the masthead.

If you want tips on flying an assym, look on YouTube. It's a bit different than most sails. Much easier if you have a sock for it.

ah, i do indeed have a sock for it.
just discovered the cost of the line, gasp. $1.75 a foot for 11mm, yikes.
i believe with a 55' air draft i may need 100' for just the spin halyard.

the last question was on the spinnaker stay sail.
if it went up front, would it need the halyard from the jib or would i put it on the 3/4 tall halyard for the storm jib?

this connector is the forestay right?

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by Teknav

Hiya Scoob! Are you going to sail your square rigger while you're on the hard?

Mauritz
Going to behave now!

i am not on the hard?

[Hydra]

Originally Posted by scoobert

the last question was on the spinnaker stay sail.
if it went up front, would it need the halyard from the jib or would i put it on the 3/4 tall halyard for the storm jib?

You have to decide if the spinnaker stay sail is to be hoisted on the main mast or on the mizzen mast.

Alain

[Jim Cate]

Can't speak for this sail, but in the "good old days" of IOR boats a spinnaker staysail was a tall, narrow sail hoisted free flying inside a symmetrical kite when close reaching. On our previous boat (IOR one-tonner) it enabled us to carry the kite much closer to the wind without it collapsing... but not with much boat speed. Usually quicker to close reach with a genoa. This was with a fairly full cut all purpose 1 1/2 oz kite. A star cut (no good asymmetrical designs in those days) would have been better, but not in the budget.

What you guys are thinking of on the mizzen was (and is) called a mizzen staysail.

Cheers,

Jim

[Hydra]

I agree: this spinnaker stay sail is probably intended to be hoisted on the main mast. Measurements or a picture would remove doubts. But I don't understand the purpose of using it with an asymmetrical spinnaker.

Alain

[Sailmonkey]

In the IOR days I thought it was called a blooper? I would suspect what he's got is a mizzen staysail.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by Suijin

...................................

Yes you can use the sheets from the genoa, but chances are that they are heavier than necessary and may weigh the sail down, depending on the weight of the sail and the wind conditions. Go ahead and try them.

................................................

If this is an asymmetrical spinaker I would suggest that the genoa sheets will be too short in addition to too heavy. You'll need to be able to execute an outside gybe with the assymetrical and this will require longer sheets.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

In the IOR days I thought it was called a blooper? I would suspect what he's got is a mizzen staysail.

No, bloopers were sorta half spinnakers (light nylon, very deep draft) set from well out on the bow when sailing very deep angles. The spinny staysail was dacron and set on a very tight halyard to a point about the middle of the foredeck, well inside the kite.

Both were a PITA...

Cheers,

Jim