jason -and the arguenauts
Well-Known Member
Dont understand this - can you expand on it a little?
Singlehanded spinnaker advice
- Thread starter doug748
- Start date
Dont understand this - can you expand on it a little?
Blueboatman
Well-Known Member
Interesting.
I have some little singlehanded experience of spinnakers but it is 8 years old and having just been given a really nice one for 36ft, will be doing a lot more as it is such a great sail when it works. (Actually hoisted it this morning, in stops, in the berth just to practise the technique)..
I have windyvane and good autop. but basically go with what Fleming says- Hoist from the mast and get it down from the companionway-self tailing winches are nice, the foresail is your friend and be wary of gybing until you get the up/down bit quick and faultless....By then the subconscious will have worked out some gybing tricks and you can then tell us how to gybe neatly!
My last boat 26ft we used really light sheets and plastic snapshackles for a better cleaner light airs set.
Nice piccy btw.
I have some little singlehanded experience of spinnakers but it is 8 years old and having just been given a really nice one for 36ft, will be doing a lot more as it is such a great sail when it works. (Actually hoisted it this morning, in stops, in the berth just to practise the technique)..
I have windyvane and good autop. but basically go with what Fleming says- Hoist from the mast and get it down from the companionway-self tailing winches are nice, the foresail is your friend and be wary of gybing until you get the up/down bit quick and faultless....By then the subconscious will have worked out some gybing tricks and you can then tell us how to gybe neatly!
My last boat 26ft we used really light sheets and plastic snapshackles for a better cleaner light airs set.
Nice piccy btw.
awol
Well-Known Member
I quite often fly the spinnaker single-handed on my CO32. My personal limit is 16kts apparent (~23kts true on a run, less on a reach), after that the drop becomes more adrenalin fuelled than I like. Autotiller is Simrad TP32 with gain set quite high. I hoist from the mast with the genny flying, (don't forget to jam the pole downhaul), temporarily cleat on the main's cleat, get the thing flying, furl the genny, tail the halyard through the jammer, release from the mast cleat and wind the spare bit through the jammer with the winch. Drop is made easier with double sheets/guys and mostly happens on the coachroof - 1st unfurl genny, then lazy guy through the sail boom slot, pull in tight and make off with a half hitch to the hand rail, release guy till pole is almost on f'stay, back to lazy guy and heave it and sail in with left hand as the halyard is blown with the right, dropping the lot into the mainhatch with the turtle hanging underneath. Release the guy fully when the head has been packed and pack the rest. Sheets/guys and halyard are joined then flipped through main/boom slot to be positioned for the next hoist. Gybing with lazy sheet/guy is done running dead downwind, tension on sheets, boom off mast onto new guy, drop old guy and pole onto mast, then back to cockpit to gybe main. I don't even attempt this in any sea that causes the boat to screw around.
I remove the sprayhood to fly the chute - it just gets in the way even when flattened. I don't (after one particular sphincter clenching moment) hoist the chute if sea room is not available i.e. I don't do runs/reaches towards lee shores; and I do keep an eye on the windspeed 'cos it can climb imperceptibly before realisation sets in. I don't cleat the sheet unless the wind is really light, so have your pee before you hoist.
Finally, when you do get it flying just right, sail majestically into your mooring area, drop it perfectly, round up on the mooring dropping the main as you go forward to whip the pick-up on board - no one will ever see you. Do the same manoeuvre with cock-ups and every bu$$er under the sun will see it and comment on it!
I remove the sprayhood to fly the chute - it just gets in the way even when flattened. I don't (after one particular sphincter clenching moment) hoist the chute if sea room is not available i.e. I don't do runs/reaches towards lee shores; and I do keep an eye on the windspeed 'cos it can climb imperceptibly before realisation sets in. I don't cleat the sheet unless the wind is really light, so have your pee before you hoist.
Finally, when you do get it flying just right, sail majestically into your mooring area, drop it perfectly, round up on the mooring dropping the main as you go forward to whip the pick-up on board - no one will ever see you. Do the same manoeuvre with cock-ups and every bu$$er under the sun will see it and comment on it!
davidwf
Well-Known Member
I'm with Doug, I am finding using a snuffer single handed much harder than just launching out of a turtle and pulling it all back into the cockpit when lowering it. I am now spending far too much time on the foredeck. Also you can sort out the sail so all three corners come out untangled from a turtle, not so a snuffer.
And apologies to a rather nice boat I nearly rear ended on Sunday in Harwich as I fought with the snuffer and chute on foredeck, autopilot seemed strangely attracted to the rear of the other boat. And chute strangely attracted to wraping itself around the forestay. Many thanks to them for moving out of my way.
doug748
Well-Known Member
- I think NDG is suggesting a line from the masthead to a midpoint on the foredeck. This would help to fill in the foretriangle and help prevent the wrap.
I did consider perhaps rigging my removable forestay to do a similar job, but I think I decided that the foot is too near to the forestay to be effective.
Might try it though.
NDG
Well-Known Member
Yep, that's pretty much the theory as I understand it. I was on a 65 footer once and the skipper explained that on really long runs he sometimes he flies a small storm jib from inner forestay, and leaves it there sheeted in tight, for the same reason. Sounds a tad excessive for a small boat but I guess it could ruin your day on a v big boat.