How do you fly a spinnaker?

[CliveG]

Hi

We are off next week on a 35ft deep keel S&S design yacht.
We are to take part in an evening club race off Dartmouth.

There is a spinnaker and all the kit on board but none of the crew have ever flown one.

Where can I find an idiots guide to spinnaker flying?

Clive G

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[Jeremy_W]

The best guide I've seen is in "This is Downwind Sailing".

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[boatless]

Wish Dartmouth wasn't so far away... Best way is to find a crew who has. Much easier.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[discoduck]

Page two ybw-doats Reader to Reader "Spinnaker Gybes" Practice in light winds. Good Luck

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[Bluesbreaker]

illustrated "Sail & Rig Tuning" by Ivan Dedekam,has a good pictorial chapter on how to use Spinnaker's &Gennaker's. (published by Fernhurst books.)

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[jonjo]

Before leaving harbour:

Repack the spinnaker to ensure no twists and that you know which corner is which.

Rig sheets and guys.

Practice clipping the spinnaker bag to foredeck and attaching sheets and halyard.

Practice pseudo drop, see below.

During Race.

75% of way to the windward mark attach spinnaker bag at foredeck then get crew back aft.

100m before windward mark attach sheets, guys and halyard but keep the lid on bag.

Just before mark, begin to winch on the guy to get corner of sail out to the pole and the pole off the forestay.

At mark, haul on halyard and move the pole further aft using the guy.

Don't sheet in too early otherwise it is hard to get the sail fully up.

Drop the genoa.

Don't think about gybing the spinnaker first time out.

On a broad reach in lively conditions the mainsheet and kicker men need to be aware that they are steering the yacht with some assistance from the helm.

Maintain sea room to windward for broaching space.

During a broach when water flows over the leeward cockpit coaming the skipper should shout "yeee-haaa" to convince crew this is normal racing entertainment.

The Drop.

Well before leeward mark, get the genoa up.

Flake out the halyard and get a strong crew member on leeward side deck holding the lazy spinnaker guy and another person at the companion way steps also holding the lazy guy.

Ease the pole forward just off the forestay.

Foredeck person (with head to leeward of the pole) should trip the spinnaker from the guy. Spinnaker will flap noisily but harmlessly, anchored at masthead and the sheet.

Crew should start hauling in the lazy guy as the halyard (breaked by a winch) is released under control.

Continue to bundle spinnaker down into the saloon.

Foredeck crew must get the pole stowed and check the genoa sheets are free to allow quick tack at the mark. (Very easy to get a genoa sheet led under the pole).

The spinnaker sheet should only be released to get the last few meters of spinnaker bundled down into the saloon.

Once the spinnaker is nearly down the skipper should keep repeating "weight-up" so that idle crew members get their bums on the windward rail.

Focus on boat speed for the first few minutes past the leeward mark, then get the lightest crew member moving around the deck tidying up the sheets and guys.

Pack the spinnaker after the finishing line, at 35feet its all about kilos on the windward rail.


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[Peppermint]

Re: Check with the race instructions.

It might be that none spi boats have more chance of doing well than a boat that flies one badly.

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[flaming]

Re: Check with the race instructions.

All good advice. Would add that it's best to ignore your instincts and NOT put stopper knots in the sheets and guys. If it's gotta go, it's gotta go!

If at all goes wrong blow the halyard to try and get all the wind possible out of it. Not pretty but can be effective when the panic sets in!

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[A_7]

I always find that it is best to leave the thing in its bag!

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[jeffro]

if u dont want a divorce leave her indoors indoors

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[boatless]

Re: Check with the race instructions.

I do put stoppers in, but with one more twist than an ordinary figure eight and then finish it as a slip knot. Extra twist reduces the chance of it binding up tight.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[raymond25]

Personally, I'd leave it in the bag and you can enjoy watching others struggle with theirs!

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[flaming]

Re: Check with the race instructions.

Never thought of that. Sounds like a good plan though!
Will have to try it!

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[Becky]

Very carefully, mostly down wind, preferably with a snuffer at the top of the haliard, and with several strong guys ( both of the rope and male variety) to pull it down.

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[CliveG]

Thanks to all for all the good advice.

I found "This is Down Wind Sailing" on Amozon second hand for £4.00.
Hope it arrives before we leave.

The crew is mostly female and not very stong.
So unless it is light winds I think the spi will stay bagged.

CliveG

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[TheBoatman]

I always fit a firing line in the sheet piston hanks with a nice big bowline loop in so that if it all goes tits up you can reach out with a boat hook and fire the spinney away v.quickly.

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[claymore]

Not as daft as it sounds

If you've never flown one before, a race is not the place to do it first. Assuming you have some competitive spirit - otherwise you'd not be entering the race - albeit a club evening race - if you get a half decent start and are doing ok at the windward mark - its would be a real bummer to blow it all by getting into a mess when you fly the kite. Leave it in thebag and practice together as a team out of the racing environment - before you consider using it in a race.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[ParaHandy]

Re: Not as daft as it sounds

of course, another reason to leave it in the bag is if its raining .... can't have the thingie getting wet, can we?

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[claymore]

Re: Not as daft as it sounds

Thin Ice Para...Thin Ice. Dinnae forget ma wee photie

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[Twister_Ken]

It's not easy. Somewhere I've got a picture of Morning Cloud with the spinny hoisted by the starboard clew. And if Owen Parker can get it wrong, what chance have you got?

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>