Spinnaker Drop System

[Steven UK]

Just been watching some sailing TV while working out and twice on two different shows they were using spinnaker drop systems that pulled the spinnaker down the forward hatch. My old Chrysler Buccaneer had a similar system, they called it a belly button line that attached to the center of the spinnaker and pulled into a canvas tube starting at the bow.

just wondering if any short handed cruisers were using it also?

Best Regards Steven

[JPA Cate]

We do not have a belly line, but we do use a spinnaker sock. Our chute is not an assymetrical, it is a full sized spinnaker with two shoulders, off a Sta Cruz 50m so it's pretty big. Really wouldn't want to pull it into the V-berth, but I've seen the disappear into a tube deal, and think it's a treat for smaller chutes.

Ann

[RaymondR]

Back in my more youthful, adventurous days I used to rig the clew on my assymetric with a double line back to a deck cleat with another line running back to the cockpit to release it by pulling a loop of the aft-wards horn of the cleat. I would then haul the sail into the cockpit using the sheet.

As I became older and more prudent I changed to hauling the sail down and stuffing it into the bag from the foreward deck BUT would immediately take it down once the light breeze threatened to freshen.

Now that I am subsiding into dotage and geriatric-hood I am thinking about making a top down furler.

I have considered the belly line idea a number of times but tend to the opinion that it's a bit fussy for single handing. I am messy and untidy enough without hauling sails into the forward cabin.

[Steven UK]

I'm wondering if the belly button line doesn't have to run inside the boat, maybe just along the cabin top to depower the sail and stop it going in the water.

Just food for thought...

[Franziska]

That system is traditionally used on dinghies and beach cats.
Works perfectly there.
Best benefit is that the belly line is taking care of the chute goes well stored into the tube.
If you put a little loop over the belly line half way down between centre and lower leech you can use it on bigger chutes as it shortens the storage length.

Belly line and all other stay attached when sail is dowsed.

Franziska

[Snowpetrel]

The TP52's are using some impressive string drop retrieval systems with a high speed reel that pulls the kite straight down the hatch.

https://youtu.be/w3st365oLJc

https://www.seahorsemagazine.com/93-...7-kite-strings

[Franziska]

That is exactly the same system I was referring to above, just in big.
Most dinghies and beach cats do it that way. Most yachts dont because it needs space on the inside, a hatch and can introduce moisture to the inside.

[MikeFergie]

I use a Tylaska shackle on the tack. I sail on my own a lot. If the wind builds quick all I do is pull the small rope on the Tylaska and the tack is instantly released dumping all the power out of the sail. Then I pull the sock line and the sail is socked. The boat then stops or in big seas drifts a bit. I then drop the halyard and put the sail in its bag on the foredeck trampoline.
I learned this from sailing “Impi” catamaran. Brent and Ana run this on their lagoon 45 and have been cruising now for 7 years. He has a video on youtube

[MikeFergie]

https://youtu.be/4XQoq9gOURw

Is the video link

[markpierce]

Downed spinnakers countless times in SF Bay. We always pulled the downwind sheet behind the mainsail into the main cabin's hatch.

[Xenofonte]

Easy as a cake!
Children can do it from the cockpit without dance in the foredeck.

please see:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwnlpXYfrQs&t=6s

Best wishes, and best winds!

[barnakiel]

I used that on dinghies.


On this boat I simply drop kites behind the main, by hand.


Many modern boats furl the kites and this makes most sense as long as you have the $$ for the hardware.


b.

[Tornadosailing]

Originally Posted by MikeFergie

I use a Tylaska shackle on the tack. I sail on my own a lot. If the wind builds quick all I do is pull the small rope on the Tylaska and the tack is instantly released dumping all the power out of the sail. Then I pull the sock line and the sail is socked. The boat then stops or in big seas drifts a bit. I then drop the halyard and put the sail in its bag on the foredeck trampoline.
I learned this from sailing “Impi” catamaran. Brent and Ana run this on their lagoon 45 and have been cruising now for 7 years. He has a video on youtube

That's exactly how I do it, and learned it from Impi as well. The Tylaska and spinnaker sock are invaluable for short handed spin work. I also added a 10 foot dyneema line to the clew so I could reach the Tylaska easier, and it sticks out of the sock when the spin is put away so attaching lines is easier.