Spinnaker on Charter Boat (Leopard 45)

[ChiTown2222]

After many requests, Sunsail won't provide us with a chute for our charter cat down in the BVI this march. We race and sail e and a scows regularly and are thinking about taking our A scow asymm spinnaker (1200 sq. ft.) down and rigging it up. I know some of these boats (Leopard 45s) that are privately owned have spinnakers. Will there be much of a concern over damaging the rigging if we hook one of these up? Anyone have experience doing so? Obviously we'll want to make sure the tack is to windward and be careful. We're not planning on running the thing full tilt, just a little extra speed. What do you guys think?

 

[Bajansailor]

I think one reason why Sunsail wont let you have one in the BVI's is that you really do not need one there - have you been sailing in the BVI's before?

All of the islands are within a few miles of each other, and the tradewinds should still be blowing 12 - 15 (and often 15 - 20) knots most of the time.

Sounds like a lot of hassle taking your kite with you, for what might turn out to be relatively limited usage.

 

[ChiTown2222]

[ QUOTE ]
I think one reason why Sunsail wont let you have one in the BVI's is that you really do not need one there - have you been sailing in the BVI's before?

All of the islands are within a few miles of each other, and the tradewinds should still be blowing 12 - 15 (and often 15 - 20) knots most of the time.

Sounds like a lot of hassle taking your kite with you, for what might turn out to be relatively limited usage.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yea, we had a cat down there 2 years ago. We just really enjoyed the sailing part of the trip. We race scows, so we enjoy going fast, and we just want to add a little excitement to the sail. There is one leg we were thinking about in particular (Anegada to Jost Van Dyke) which is a 3 hour sail downwind where we'd love to have a chute.

 

[jamesjermain]

You know the area so you can make your own decision on weather but I must say I have always found the wind sufficiently strong and the distances sufficiently short not to need a spinnaker.

But more importantly, if Sunsail refuse to supply a spi and you take your own, you will probably be invalidating the insurance and Sunsail will be quite entitled to say you can't take the boat out.

 

[snowleopard]

It is normal for charterers to not to provide spinnakers or only on payment of an extra charge. The reason is that you can do a lot of damage in a short time if you get it wrong.