General Info: Spinaker sheets

[ozsailer]

Hello all,
very excited at the moment as our new spinnaker (Wingaker) has been shipped and is on its way. Wahoo. As the new sail is on its way I want to go out and buy the new sheets but unsure of how much line to run. As recommended by the manufacturer I will be running not only the sheets off the each bow but also a set of lazy guys as we will be able to reach with the sail as well. I would be most grateful if my learned forum members could advise me how long my sheets and guys need to be. Our boat is 12 metres long and 7 metres wide.


Greg, Sue and Bella the sea Dog
SV Sunshine
Lagoon 410 S2

[monte]

It depends how you route them Greg, but I would allow enough for the wingaker to fly 10m above the deck, so length of guys 10m plus the length from the bow blocks back to the winches plus enough for a few turns in the winch. About 20m for each should do. Guys can be 10mm, sheets 13mm diameter. We run our guys from the foreword blocks, up to the turning blocks at the base of the mast, through the turning blocks on the cabin top and to the jammers. We use the reefing line blocks and jammers for the parasailor as we never use them when flying the parasailor. Bowlines for sheet attachment work well and allow to shorten a few cms as needed and cut the excess off the end. Check the masthead block carefully and upgrade it if necessary, they've been known to break pretty easily as some are just riveted on the face of the mast, they're not really designed for parasailor/wingaker stresses.

[monte]

Btw check your jammers and blocks to make sure those line sizes will work, you could also go with all 13mm line. No need for high tech line, just double braid polyester should be fine.
I was told by the parasailor guy that one skipper swore by simply releasing the sheets and guys in squalls, so the sail flys high and spills all the air, almost horizontal. Well I tried this in 38kn winds and it was scary! The boat was still sailing at 12kn with little control over the sail. The sail was dancing around in the air and looking like an accident waiting to happen...
What size wingaker did you go for?

[ozsailer]

HI Monte,
after consultation with the sail maker we opted for a 110 square metre sail. We could have gone bigger but due to some strength constraints with the crew we went smaller to ensure both of us could safely deploy and recover the sail in any conditions. I have always sailed conservatley when cruising and it has always stood us in good stead. My wife loves sailing and its amazing the folk we met up with who's wives would not sail with them on passage but fly in later due to them having been scared out of their wits by the husbands go ho sailing attitude.
The sail is still large enough for respectable speeds and small enough for easy handling.


Greg and Sue
SV Sunshine

[meirriba]

I do not have an experience with a parasailor, but do have a lot of experience with normal spinnakers and asymmetrics on various boats.
I have learned that sheets/guys each twice the length of the specific boat are always a safe bet.
Have fun.