Running

[Cotillion]

Having no spinnaker pole I find it difficult to goosewing and normally would roll up the genny (can't stand the banging and crashing as the sail fills and collapses) and set up the main with a protector. Do you think I would be better off handing the main and setting the headsail instead?

I know I'd be better off taking the wind on the quarter and gybeing my way but my usual crew, Mrs. Cotillion, has a straight line mentality and often reminds me, "We're not at home to Mr. Tack"!

The boat is a 28 feet masthead sloop. What do you think?

kim

 

[longjohnsadler]

Use the crew as a 'spinnaker pole'?

 

[Stemar]

I think the answer is it depends.../forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

...on how much bigger the genny is than the main, or vice versa. The genny is likely to be easier to steer, as the centre of effort is futher forward, and is generally bigger than the main, so should give more umph, but if you can't keep it filled without having the shhet so slack the genny just balloons, you'd probably be better under main. Another advantage of using the main is that it's probably easier to lose the genny than the main.

You pays yer money and you takes yer choice! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[wooslehunter]

If there's any wind & sea up then it's the genny every time. Some boats (mine for instance) are almost uncontrollable with just the main. If the boat rolls over to leeward it screws up into wind horribly with just the main & can easily stall out the rudder. With just the genny, the center of effort is nicely forward it carries on rolling down wind under perfect control.

If there's not too much wind then try goose-winging without a pole. It takes some concentration but isn't too bad once you get used to it. Play around with the genny sheet to get it nice & stable but beware the crash gybe so a preventer may be in order.

 

[webcraft]

Goosewinging sans pole in flat water is usually fairly easy - although it requires concentration, and is the one situation where a wind instrument can really help the cruiser.

But . . . if you are not going to fly a spinnaker then for goodness' sake invest in a pole - it will be one of the best things you ever did. It is the only way to sail downwind with any kind of sea running. You could build your own quite cheaply, or look for one second hand at boat jumbles.

- Nick

 

[jimi]

Agree completely a pole is absolutely indispensable when running, turns a noisy stressy experience into something akin to pleasure

 

[Coppershield]

Hi Kim,
I just send you a PM
I hope it will be of help.
Best regards
Muzaffer Develioglu

 

[SlowlyButSurely]

Hand the main and rig a preventer on the boom to hold it out as far as it will go, then use the genny sheeted to a block at the end of the boom.

Then just relax and have a cup of tea.

 

[DJE]

There is always this solution:

OK it needs lots of gear and messing about but very stable once it is all set up.

 

[snowleopard]

or this one....
(sorry for those of you with inconvenient bits of wire to hold the stick up)

 

[Cotillion]

Thanks all for your help looks like the genny then. I like Softly's idea of sheeting from the end of the boom.

kim

 

[misterg]

'Scuse the ignorance, but what is the set-up? Twin headsails off a single foil? Headsail + asymmetric ? Twistle? No pole to port? or what??

Please elaborate.....

Andy

 

[graham]

In strong winds running or reaching I have allways gone for Genoa only.

No worries about gybing accidently,helm very light and boat quickly gets up to hull speed

.Recently someone told me that this puts excessive strain on the mast.

I dont intend changing my habits after a lifetime of running on headsail alone,Ithink maybe this idea of the mast crumpling onlyapplies to very lightly rigged racing boats.

Anyone with any first hand knowledge? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Picture says it all for me.

 

[DJE]

Misterg:

To elaborate the rig was two headsails on a twin groove furling gear. Not really twins as the leeward sail is a 150% No. 1 and the windward one is a 95% high clewed No. 3. It was more of a broad reach than a run so the windward sail needed a pole and the leeward one didn't. Just as well because we only have one pole. Thought we would try it as we had 40 miles to go downwind. The boat did seem to roll less in the quartering sea when we took the main down and the 2nd headsail noticeably improved the speed.

Graham:

If one headsail and no main is bad for the mast what about 2? I can't see this being a problem on a masthead rigged boat. Possibly some problems with light fractional rigs when you remove the support given by the mainsail but I'm no expert on fractional rigs.

 

[jimi]

I have heard that having a jib up by itself in heavy seas can cause "pumping" of the mast leading to failure. I'm not an expert and I don't fully understand why.

 

[Miker]

I've used a whisker pole and mainsail gybe preventer - my swept back shrouds stop the mainsail from being let right out. But last year I ventured out across Morecambe Bay in too strong a wind for my nerve, and on the way back I didn't fancy struggling to put up a fully reefed mainsail so decided to sail just on the rolled genoa. I was surprised how fast the boat sailed and high it pointed, and the stability. From now on, when running, particularly up a narrow channel, I shall think of sailing on the genoa alone.

 

[StugeronSteve]

Was once told that there is a danger of a mast inversion when running under headsail alone, but this is not a problem if the rig includes a baby stay. Still not sure why though.