Banding a Spinnaker

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xstucker

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www.mflixster.com
I have just read the instructions for racing my boat and notice that they recommend 'banding' the spinnaker before launching. This appears to be the process of putting rubber bands round the spinnaker to keep it in a sausage shape while hoisting. As I don't have a snuffer and I have 4 spinnakers, I would like to try this. Does anyone have any advice on what sort or size of band I should use? The spinnakers are about 15m long and 8m between the clews.

Thanks,
 
Bit of trial and error re the sizes.If you get a short piece of plastic drain pipe big enough in diameter to pull the spinnaker through put all the bands on that and move them onto the kite as you pull it through.

The average postman throws away enough rubber bands for a Round the Island Race.
 
i would think that the size is too large for bands.
we used that method very successfully on a 26 footer. plastic bucket with the bottom cut out, bands placed on outside of bucket pull the spi hd through the bucket & drop off a band say every 2 ft
 
Better to use wool - actual, proper wool, rather than a polyester wool mix. You should be able to break it yourself.

Not really necessary in any boat under about 45'. It's too much hassle unless you have to. And even then you rarely need to do the whole sail - just the top half is fine.
 
Used to use and buy "Rotten cotton" back in the sixties. Then some one came up with the elastic band system and I, for one, still use it..
Get a suitable bucket and cut out the bottom, smooth the cut edges with a file, sandpaper or whatever.... Apply some duck tape rounf the outside of the funnel which you've just made ... This helps the bands to stay on the bucket...
Purchase a large quantity of suitably sized rubber bands not tooooo strong..
Put bands over the duck tape (as many as you like they can stay there almost indefinately) .
Now get a couple of sail ties and secure the handle of the bucket to something down below (where the packing will be done)..
Grab the head and shove it through the larger end of your Bucket/funnel and as you pull it through flick off a band now 'n then.. If you use too many you'll not be able to break them... Too few and they'll break too early.. so there's a little bit of "art" in the exercise... Also don't put one very close to the head or it'll fail to break.. Of course you've still got to "follow a leach" so you don't get a twist..
you can then kind of flake/ coil the chute into it's bag ensuring that the head and clews are secured so you can get the right line on the right corner!!!
Light weather expected = fewer bands and vice versa..
Don't know if Rotton cotton is still available but the band sustem is the dog's wotsits as far as I'm concerned
Sorr to all Grandmas I didn't want to teach you to suck any eggs but the question was asked....
Have fun Cheers Bob E...

Oh and BTW we did it in 40+ footers
 
In a certain dark, Low Point in my life before I learned about Life After Racing, I did BobE's trick with the bucket held in place in the main bulkhead doorway with some bungy-cord and some screw-eyes. I also rigged a small block and a long continuous line thru the bucket up into the bows to try and single-handedly conveyor-belt the head forward after the drop, but it seemed a stupid idea in retrospect. Far more fun to have our beloved Bow-Tottie down in the sewers with you, playing with 'lastic-bands and helping pull the laundry forward! And just to offend the greenie tree-huggers out there, natural latex 'lastics are probably gonna biodegrade in seawater faster than fish-scales and cause less damage than diesel emissions![rant witheld]
 
We used to use a bucket on a 32 ' boat but on my much smaller boat it is a pain to store so now I use a B & Q large paint kettle with the bottom knocked out. This holds enough bands for a couple of repacks at least and it hangs from the forehatch handle when sailing for ease of finding.

The spinnaker on our 26 ' boat passes through easy enough with one feeding and the other pulling/ banding but it wouldn't be suitable for a very much bigger sail.
 
Exactly the system we've used for years!! I had to do it (and still do) when single-handing, even though all the control lines are lead back to my cockpit.

We usually set the bands in the saloon or, if we're at anchor, put the spi in the saloon and haul it up through the companionway and through the bucket. We find the latter quicker if there's little wind and no rain.

It makes life a lot less stressful IMHO. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
All of the above regarding the bucket but we found taping a small rod down the side of the bucket ( with duck tape) helps you "pick off" the lacky bands
 
So let's get this straight - you guys are suggesting that xstucker should chuck 20+ elastic bands over the side every time he raises his Spinnaker? I thought we weren't supposed to chuck anything into the sea.
 
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