Got a cruising chute vs spinny question

[Ex-SolentBoy]

We had a cruising chute on our previous boat. Being shorthanded we decided it just wasn't worth the bother as it seem the wind is always forward of the beam for us anyway.

On the new boat we changed to a slutter rig with two headsails close together. In spinnaker or cruising chute conditions we simply furl the mail and sail with the headsails on opposite sides of the boat. The openness of our smaller sail's leech ensures is stays nicely on the windward side without a pole for a reasonable angle and then if the wind does get behind it it just flops to the other side on its self tacking rail.

All this ensures that I can stay in the cockpit doing nothing which is my preferred cruising mode.

 

[BuzzFan]

[QUOTE snip...That is easily the worst idea I've ever heard connected to snuffers. The wind is "too strong to snuff" so you want to turn upwind INCREASING the apprent wind? Madness! Heading upwind with a flogging kite will damage things, the kite (probably), the rig (possibly) and your crew's confidence in you (definitely).

If you get in trouble head onto a broad reach AND STAY THERE! Ease the tack and sheet the shett on hard until you get the kite into the lee of the main, then drop / snuf.[/QUOTE]

totally agree, sorry, i explained it badly - grovel! - i meant if wind was behind then turn towards it, ie from run onto broad reach, so the kite's in the lee of main before snuffing quickly - i didnt mean carrying on turning right upwind, or you probably would end up with £££ new sea anchor!

 

[Bosun Higgs]

I race my boat with a full crew and even then we sometimes make a hash of the spinnaker. I'm sure there are people who fly one single handed but that doesnt mean its the sensible choice. When you have the boat on autopilot as you must do if handling a spinny on your own, you have the boom strapped down with a jibe preventer and you are up on the foredeck struggling with the pole and the snuffer, just how manoeuverable do you think the boat is? What if there is a sudden strong gust? An idiot on another boat decides to tack across your bow? The autohelm trips out? You get a wrap?

What I'm trying to get at is that it can be done but it is unseamanlike IMO to fly a spinny on your own and it is far more risky than a cruising chute which in the end is only a big genoa.

 

[awol]

I race my boat with a full crew and even then we sometimes make a hash of the spinnaker. I'm sure there are people who fly one single handed but that doesnt mean its the sensible choice. When you have the boat on autopilot as you must do if handling a spinny on your own, you have the boom strapped down with a jibe preventer and you are up on the foredeck struggling with the pole and the snuffer, just how manoeuverable do you think the boat is? What if there is a sudden strong gust? An idiot on another boat decides to tack across your bow? The autohelm trips out? You get a wrap?

What I'm trying to get at is that it can be done but it is unseamanlike IMO to fly a spinny on your own and it is far more risky than a cruising chute which in the end is only a big genoa.

Aye, a full crew can screw up spinnaker handling royally but it's usually done at the hurry and is aided by uncoordinated teamwork (or lack of it). Single-handed, the idea is not to be in the position of hurrying and, with a methodical approach, the teamwork can be impeccable!

Personally, while I do trust in my autopilot, I don't wander far from the tiller. I drop the spinnaker through the main/boom slot into the main hatch after collapsing the thing behind the main and genoa - the lazy guy helps with this. From release of guy and halyard to "all gone" takes only a few seconds then there is only a short meander to the foredeck to clear the pole and a quick tidy up of the ropes - done by connecting all together and then pulling round to where they will be ready if I do it again.

I am lucky that my waters are not as crowded as some; I don't use either spinnaker or cruising chute in restricted waters; and I don't use a snuffer - a work of the devil IMO. Try it on a gentle day first and work your way through the sequence needed. Gybing is not difficult - the double sheets/guys helps again. Is it unseamanlike? - with sensible precautions I don't think so. It does mean that you can teach and demonstrate to new crew from a position of knowledge and experience.

PS I do sail a MAB with tiller, winches, mainsheet, pit controls all within easy reach and I never have the sprayhood rigged when flying coloured sails single-handed.

 

[rib]

where does crowded and racing come into it the poster was on about 100 nm plus trips plenty of time to find right spot sea state etc.horses for courses i will allways use a snuffer my self.but hay whats works for you is good

 

[pagoda]

where does crowded and racing come into it the poster was on about 100 nm plus trips plenty of time to find right spot sea state etc.horses for courses i will allways use a snuffer my self.but hay whats works for you is good

I find snuffers work OK.

With crew - you can do other drop options..

Light handed, with either normal kites or cruising chutes... (assuming you are NOT racing)

wait until it's light airs before hoisting (any kite)..
drop it before you get vaguely concerned...

In any circumstances, if you're getting edgy, go deep, get the kite in the lee of the main and get it down soon.

They are great for light airs - if light handed, but unless you are properly crewed up, get em down quuickly in anything over 10-12Kts.
Found my self in the wrong circumstances in 20 Kts (crewed up..) , almost 10Kts water speed, getting out of hand.
Don't go there.. drop early!

Graeme

 

[rib]

thanks for the advise,but i need 10 kts plus to get my boat moving

 

[Lucky Duck]

In any circumstances, if you're getting edgy, go deep, get the kite in the lee of the main and get it down soon.

They are great for light airs - if light handed, but unless you are properly crewed up, get em down quuickly in anything over 10-12Kts.
Found my self in the wrong circumstances in 20 Kts (crewed up..) , almost 10Kts water speed, getting out of hand.
Don't go there.. drop early!

Graeme

If in doubt let the guy 'fly' and haul in under the lee of the main down the hatch.

 

[TQA]

OH YES

No stopper knots on the sheets or halyard, sometimes you really need to get rid of that sucker.