Shorthanded Spinnaker work - Online resources?

[Neraida]

Does anybody know of any sites around that have theory of "kite work"?

Its just going to be the two of us on Sunday, and as the forcast is for 12-15knots of North Westerly i think we need to improve our performance downwind.

All the sailing books I have only have a couple of pages at the back about spinnakers and its hardly helpful. Usually just telling me how to rig it up.
I'm happy with rigging it; we have tweakers, pole controls, guys and sheets down to fine art.

The problem is what to do with it when its up and how to get it down! We are somewhat nervous of our monster sail in anything more than a 2, as the last time we had it up in abit of a blow, we were going from nearly submarining to roaring along at 16knots on the plane..scarey stuff..

Cheers guys.

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[qsiv]

The standard solution to dropping it is to make sure you drop it heading downwind, with the kite blanketed by the main. Sheet in hard (tweakers on if you want), blow the guy, and hand the kite as the halyard is eased smartly. The less time it takes to drop the better, as all the time you have the halyard eased, but the sail not down there is an opportunity for the wind to get into the collapsed kite.

I suspect you may have a loose footed main - if you have and you want some extra control, run a line from the clew under the main and over the boom - blow the guy, and this time pull hard on your new line, strangling the main between the sail and the boom - hand it straight through the companionway into the saloon, where it is unlikely to escape. This way it is very unlikely that you will struggle to retain control through the drop.

Always, always hoist/set the jib before dousing the kite - you get extra protection, and reduce the sope for the kite to form a close relationship with the rig.

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[starboard]

Fly mine if conditions dictate singlehanded...mind you thats normally the cue for the wind then to increase...I cope fine alone and no major manfancles yet!!! to drop I let the upwind sheet ( the guy )off so the pole goes forward virtually touching the forestay. I then run onto foredeck (auto pilot on ) and let the sheet go from the kite. Then back to the cockpit then (this is the difficult bit alone as you need 3 arms) let go the halyard slowly as I pull the downwind sheet into the cockpit and the kite follows. Dont drop too quick or the kite will go in the water. Throw kite down below then go back to foredeck to drop and stow pole and tidy up sheets etc. voila!!! To be honest once you have done it a few times it is probably easier than having a crew that dont fully understand the procedure.. Good luck and enjoy the sail. Me still on hardstand till April.

Paul.

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[Peppermint]

Re: As others have said

but.

Plan well ahead. Put genoa back up before dropping kite gives you more control and stops it wrapping round the forestay. Put a stopper knot in the end of your
spi halyard then you can let go of it to use both hands at the last knockings without a trip up the mast.

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[claymore]

Online resources

Well - you've had some technically correct answers - however no-one has addressed the issue of online resources so here goes.
Get yourself 4 or 5 webcams and link them up to an onboard laptop - if you have a navigation system that is linked to your GPS that's even better as we can check your course. basically - all you need to do is start up the laptop and then get it patched in to the forum - give us say 10 or 15 minutes on your webcams then go online on the forum and wait for the online advice to start rolling in. This would be a tremendous online resource and as well as giving you some sound advice - we could experience the pleasure of sailing with you, sorting out your spinnaker technique and all from the warmth and comfort of wherever we have our computers.
Sometimes I have such good, imaginative ideas it frightens me.

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

Re: Online resources

I am ordering marinised webcams as i type (Multitasking). I am also looking at the option of "cyber crew" and a "Cyber sleeper" to keep down below (always next to the keel). I reckon it will save me a fortune in after race bar bills.

Well done

PS Thanks to everybody else too

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[Jeremy_W]

Flake your halyard very carefully so that it runs smoothly; arrange some friction in the system such as a single turn (never a double!) round a winch; don't touch the halyard until the clew of the spi is in your hand (or at the boom if lowering between boom and loose-footed main); then throw off the halyard clutch and pull like french connection united kingdom. if friction becomes a problem throw the turn off the winch, but not before at least half the spi is down.

Not an online resource, but "This is Downwind Sailing" was excellent the last time I saw my copy [vanishing into the bag of our bowman on the Oceanis].

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[doris]

Get a snuffer

There are assorted snuffers around but the good ones are, IMHO, unbeatable when shorthanded. They enable you to take the kite much further up the wind range. Then it's simply jib out, pole forward, snuffer down, kettle on! Enjoy

<hr width=100% size=1>Real men do it 2handed.

 

[PeteMcK]

Clydesailing online

2-handed spinnaker work:

http://www.clydesailing.co.uk/2handed.html

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[temptress]

As said eslewhere - SOCKS or snufflers are a real help. My wife and i generally sail 2 handed and we use our Spin or Asym all the time and using the snufflers we can get it up and down in any weather - even singlehanded.

Don't be afraid of the thing a 'float drop' or 'Streach and Blow' as the yanks call it works well on your own but you still can't beat a snuffler.

North sails have some excelent books on SPin handling and a 'Free' cd for Gennaker & Snuffer Handling
look here : http://na.northsails.com/an/AN_catalog.taf?_function=list&category=07


Good luck

<hr width=100% size=1>Temptress of Down
Southsea Marina
Hants
UK