I gots me a fancy new pointy thing...

[photodog]

So, I gots me a fancy new extendable bowsprit from Selden, and a all the gubbins that go with it, to run me new big puffy sail which I got from Smokey.... I have forgone a snuffer as I prefer the KISS principle.... I know the basics, (Ie attatch lines to key points, hoick) but any good advice especially for running it shorthanded, would be appreciated!

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[snooks]

Any pics? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Slow_boat]

Make really sure you can release the tack from the cockpit. I had a snap shackle at the wrong angle and it proved, erm, exciting.

Oh, and chucking the halyard over the side when lowering the sail keeps enough tension to stop the sail coming down at a rush.

I, too, prefer the KISS principle. Singlehanded usually, so one mistake/problem soon leads to others.

 

[photodog]

This weekend... just had the riggers call and say it was all ready to go..... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I had been dicking around with trying to figure out a cheap way of doing it /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif but in the end without a pole up there It was gonna end up either fowling the pullpit or using one of them Tacker things on the foresail... which I didnt like the idea of... In the end it cost about £220 more to do it with a proper sprit, so I thought that was money well spent!

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Should be fun!

 

[michael_w]

My new (old) boat came without regular spinnaker gear, and in interests of economy, I went down the Selden bowsprit route too.

The sail has proved a great success. If running deep, remember to ease the tack line a fair bit. This will allow the kite to slip to windward of the rig.

As far as handling goes, the squeezer has taken a lot of sorting out, coupled with a very high bad language quotient. If the sail was a bit smaller, I'd dowse it with either a Mexican or letterbox drop.

A Mexican is were you gybe but don't pull the assy across to the new leeward side. Ease the halyard and haul it down againts the mast.

The letterbox needs a loose footed main. Lead a line from the clew, through the gap between the boom and the mainsail. Strike the halyard and pull down. The proximity of the low pressure side of the main sucks the kite in towards the mainsail and down it comes.

Don't fly the thing without the main set, You've got nowhere to hide the spinnaker should things get out of hand.

 

[exfinnsailor]

One of these then /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif .. Good Fun ..

 

[davidwf]

[ QUOTE ]
Don't fly the thing without the main set, You've got nowhere to hide the spinnaker should things get out of hand.

[/ QUOTE ]

Michael,
Brilliant advice many thanks for this as I had started to get into the habit of flying without main.

When siglehanded one day got it wrapped round forestay and charged off at high speed out of control. Only saved by the main blanketing it. Will make sure I put main up in future after remembering that episode.

 

[davidportwain]

Single handed: block on the bow roller with tack line through it lead back to cockpit jammer. Long sheets through quarter blocks lead outside everything to pull pit, secured with cowmans hitch for instant use and snap shackles for use.

Routine:Ease tack, Hoist sail in snuffer outside fores'l, secure tack and appropriate sheet (1), raise snuffer, furl fors'l, adjust to taste.

Down: Jibe, blank sail, ease sheet, pull in tack, down snuffer, down halliard, disconnect tack, then sheet, stow, jibe, unfurl jib and celebrate with a beer.

Enjoy!

 

[DJE]

Sail deep for the hoist and drop to blanket the chute behind the white sails. I have tried furling the genny before the hoist and after. I'm coming round to the view that it's easier to hoist the chute behind the genny then point up a bit, fill the chute and furl the genny. I gave up on the snuffer long ago as it needed a body on the foredeck sorting out the the lines. I now just hoist it out of a bag tied to the gaurdrails. Gybing is easier with a bit of wind than in very light conditions when there's a danger of the chute collapsing on to the forestay. To avoid this I sheet the main in close to the centreline before the gybe to get as much breeze as possible to the chute to keep it off the forestay. I run the lazy sheet around the front of the chute and gybe by letting the sail fly forward like a flag then hauling in on the new sheet. Ease the halyard and tack line when sailing deep and tighten them when close reaching.
All the above applies to a 29ft masthead rigged boat with a large generously cut cruising chute. Have fun. I've been wondering about one of those bowsprit things for a while. Let us know how you get on with it.

 

[flaming]

When shorthanded you may find yourself having to flog it briefly on the hoist as you make the halyard, then turn your attention to the sheet.
Because of this, keep the jib out until you've got the kite filling, as you can't wrap the kite around the forestay with the jib out.