Spinnaker Pole Rigging

[elearp]

When attaching the end of the spinnaker pole to the tack of the chute, does the hook on the end of the pole get attached to the grommet at the tack along with the shackle on the guy, or does the hook on the pole get attached to the shackle itself?

[MarkJ]

The pole is attached NOT to the sail itself but to the Guy (brace).

Thus the pole itself can slide back and forward along the guy.When dropping a kite without a snuffer the boat is headed downwind, the sheeet hauled in and the guy is let off so the guy runs around the front of the forstay. The pole stays on the windward side of the forestay. As the foot of the kite is hauled into the boat from the sheet clew, and the guy clew is pretty well in the boat the halyard is lowered away, slowly.


Mark

[SaucySailoress]

Elearp - have you ever sailed a spinnaker before? I suggest you find someone who has to come along and show you - several times in various conditions!!!

[elearp]

Mark, Thanks, so the parrots beak is clipped over the guy and can slide back and forth-- and that was made clear when you said the sheet is pulled in and the guy runs around the forestay and the pole stays on the windward side. Got it, thanks, and I assume that the lines should be attached to the sail with bowlines just as they are with a jib.

Kate: Probably a good idea, and I won't attempt unless light winds.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by elearp

that the lines should be attached to the sail with bowlines just as they are with a jib.

.

Its better to use snap shackles as you nead to ping them off fast when dropping it.

You can do it without experienced people on boat, a good idea would be ealry one morning in no wind at all. Just get the thing up and see how it goes.
You will doubtless make mistakes with all the lines, i.e the sheet must go outside EVERYTHING, but it always gets screwed up etc. Its just practice.

sometimes if a very experienced person is on board who cant teach will make it look easy but confuse the hell out of you.

If there is someone who can teach then bring them aboard, otherwise do it yourself on a calm day

Slowly and gently is the trick

Calm day = no breaze. No breeze is NOTHING, ok?

Zero

leave plenty of space when you start taking the spinakker down as it takes a while and the boat moes pretty quickly

[elearp]

Thanks, Regards, Ed

[bewitched]

Originally Posted by elearp

Mark, Thanks, so the parrots beak is clipped over the guy and can slide back and forth.

Under

The pin goes above the guy and the lazy sheet lays over the top.

When you fire the pin, the pole should be able to drop down.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by bewitched

Under

The pin goes above the guy and the lazy sheet lays over the top.

When you fire the pin, the pole should be able to drop down.

Yes, absolutely.

By the way, when poling out the Genoa I put ours on the other way, the pole above the sheet as the sheet will drop (should drop) when the pin fired. Is that what you do?



Mark

[bewitched]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

By the way, when poling out the Genoa I put ours on the other way, the pole above the sheet as the sheet will drop (should drop) when the pin fired. Is that what you do?

I don't - but only because I'd haven't thought of doing it that way.

If I need to gybe, I'll just roll up the headsail (keeping the downhaul tight as it goes), wander to the bow, change sheets in the pole, gybe and then unroll. For me it's easier if the pole drops - but I guess it doesn't matter either way.

[Prerequisite]

When racing with symmetrical chutes, we use 'jaws up' on medium to high wind days so the sail will lift out of the jaws when the pin is tripped. On light wind days we use 'jaws down' so the sail will fall out of the jaws when the pin is tripped. We also use shackles on the sheets and guys on medium and high wind days and bowlines on light wind days. ...What was Mark saying about confusing people? Isn't sailing fun?

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Prerequisite

We also use shackles on the sheets and guys on medium and high wind days and bowlines on light wind days. ...What was Mark saying about confusing people? Isn't sailing fun?

Snap shackles, I take it? Not screw in pin ones?

Getting on someone elses boat racing is always like that thing where you have to do it their way, no matter if its weird and looney. I think that was the best thing about skiff sailing as if was the first time I was my own boss, and then when I got my first boat. Suddenly I could be the weird one!


In reality, most racing boats that are doing reasonable well have very good systems in place, yes they might all be slightly different, but a lot of thought normally goes into it. Saving seconds around a mark is where races are won and lost.*



*Disclaimer for the Americas Cup: Won and Lost in a court room! After Aussies won in 1984 we were going to change the rules: All sails to be made out of Kangaroo skin. Kangaroo Exports banned.



Mark