PBO cruising chute article - solo option?

Tintin

Tintin

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I have just read the Cruising Chute article in the July PBO.

TBH I have avoided using a spinnaker or chute when solo. This article makes me think that with a good autopilot, autopilot remote (which I have), and mast halyards, that the top down furler is the way to go when solo.

In particular the ability to leave it hoisted is also very attractive.

Thoughts?

Edit. Boat a beneteau first 325.
 
I am very happy to launch my asymmetric single handed - mine has a good snuffer that makes it easy.

Another major benefit of the snuffer is that it saves having to repack the chute underway.
 
I do single-handed spinnakering as well, and am considering making a snuffer as getting the monster back into it's bag safe and dry can be a bit of a lottery. It never seems to slide gracefully down the lee of the main, like they say in the books...
Another thing - nothing to do with single-handing, but don't you get annoyed when the pole won't come fully back due to the lowers.
DSCF0359_zpsfeeaa665.jpg
 
I have not seen the article yet.

On my previous boat, a Westerly Centaur, I used to hoist the asymmetric quite regularly when single-handed. The sail and sock were by Arun.

Wally3.jpg



On my present boat, a Centurion 32, I have never tried it (it seems ginormous) but I have now invested in a sock by Hyde and hope to try it out in the next few weeks. The 'secret' of successful use in using a sock seems to be the initial loading of the sail into the sleeve.

I wouldn't even attempt to fly an asymmetric without a snuffer because I am almost always on my own and, at 67, I am not as agile as I once was.
 
I have a top down fuller on my Southerly. It is indeed very helpful when dowsing the asymmetric. Takes a bit of getting used to but during this season I hope to improve my technique. I also have a now defunct snuffer which I hope to sell. The snuffer works well but at 74 I prefer the top down. Less time spent on the fore deck or by the mast!

The snuffer is by Crusader. I used it on my Southerly 100 which has a mast top fore sail. If anybody is interested I will soon be putting it on EBay.
 
I use a big cruising chute, solo, on my Macwester Wight. I have a sock which makes easy especially when dropping the chute. I normally raise the chute before the mail sail, which it makes it easier for single handed.
 
Comrade Red said:
I have just read the Cruising Chute article in the July PBO.

TBH I have avoided using a spinnaker or chute when solo. This article makes me think that with a good autopilot, autopilot remote (which I have), and mast halyards, that the top down furler is the way to go when solo.

In particular the ability to leave it hoisted is also very attractive.

Thoughts?

Edit. Boat a beneteau first 325.
Click to expand...
I have sailed with a furling asymmetric spinnaker on my First 38 for years.
One of the nice things with having the sail on furler is that in can be furled/unfurled from the cockpit.
My spinnaker halyard goes to the cockpit - no need to jump the halyard at the mast - I just hoist it out of the bag when the tack and halyard is secured (but securing the halyard at the mast will also work).
Once the sail is hoisted you can unfurl from the cockpit and control the sheet from the same place.
It's important to rig the furling line (endless) so you don't create unnecessary friction

I have a Facnor AFX with central furling line, in my experience it's not always easy to keep the furled sail hoisted because it sometimes start to flap in the wind.
Maybe the top down variety give a tighter "package"?
 
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