Some b****r's nicked my spinaker pole

[Guest]

Some b****r\'s nicked my spinaker pole

I think my spinaker is "radial head", and I can't afford a new pole. Someone said I can fly it on strop without pole similar to flying a chute. Anyone any experience or advice on doing this? I am sailing a Hurley 24/70 so the kite isn't that big.

 

[DoctorD]

Re: Some b****r\'s nicked my spinaker pole

I feel for you. How can someone do that?

If you have a ring to attach a shackle to at the bowroller you can theoretically do this. You can use a wire strop with a shackle at one end and a swivelling shackle at the other end to attach to the tack of the spinnaker. You really need a luff wire in your sail though (like assymetrics have - usually made of Spectra or Kevlar or similar). It maybe hard to stop the luff collapsing otherwise.

You could also rig up a block and line so you can vary the height of the tack and this may help. Best thing to do is have a go.

Graham

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: Some b****r\'s nicked my spinaker pole

The theory behind the pole is to give the sail two fixed corners, at the masthead, and at the tack. Fixed at the tack because the combination of guy, foreguy (downhaul) and topping lift triangulate the pole pretty solidly. Being fixed at 2 corners keeps the spinny moderately stable, but even then it can swing about fairly alarmingly. Flying it on a strop seems to be a bit fraught, especially running deep in a bit of slop. Remember a spinny is a very different shape from a cruising chute.

Go to a boat jumble, you might be able to buy your pole back - if not, then someone elses!

 

[DanTribe]

Re: Some b****r\'s nicked my spinaker pole

Have you considered a DIY job making a new one in timber, poles don't have to be aluminium.For a boat of your size it should be fairly easy and cheap.The expensive bits are the end fittings and you may find those 2nd hand or at boat jumbles.Flying a spinnaker without a pole can get a bit wobbly.