Flying the kite!

[craiglockwood]

My little Virgo Voyager has now been delivered and I was pleased that she had a spinnaker pole on deck. This was an unexpected surprise which doubled when I found a pristine spinnaker in a locker.

I have never used a spinnaker before and am wondering it is as easy as hoisting on a spare halyard and sheeting her in?

The spinnaker is asymmetrical so I am also wondering how and when I would use the pole?

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[saltylegs]

Hi
If it is asymmetrical then it is more likely a cruising chute which does not require a pole as it is "tacked" down to the bow fitting rather than a pole end.

 

[geem]

Hi
If it is asymmetrical then it is more likely a cruising chute which does not require a pole as it is "tacked" down to the bow fitting rather than a pole end.

Not necessarily. My Last boat had a full asymmetric for use on a pole. An asymmetric spinnaker will still pull with the apparent wind just ahead of the beam and the pole out in front. It also works well with the pole abeam and running dead down wind, something an asymmetric kite flown from the bow does poorly

 

[oldsaltoz]

+ 1 Geem.

Good luck and fair winds.