Spinnaker Track Placement

[Roach1948]

As part of the ongoing rig improvements I am looking to add a spinnaker track to the mast. The problem is that there is the mail halyard cleat on the front of the mast at 120cm from the deck and the two snubbing winches at 160cm cm off the deck - meaning the track would only be 40cm long between those two obstructions. I suppose I can move winches and cleats, but it is a hell of a lot of work so was wondering whether I could live with the 40cm length of track at that height? How long are others track and how far off the deck. Interested in simlar sized fractionaly rigged sloops- e.g. Stella's, FB's, Vertues that sort of thing....

 

[Sequoiah1]

You can do it with a fixed pole position and ditch the short track so long as its not too high up the mast.

 

[Roach1948]

That is what I am trying to work out - what is too high up the mast? I suppose it would be good to have some track high in order to gybe the pole under the forestay.

 

[Sequoiah1]

Ah.......... then you will be needing long track. Or when you gybe in the light just end for end the pole or just pop it off and on again once you have the pole around. In lots of wind and if you have a snuffer just snuff, gybe and then re-set. With practise you can do this quite easilly and I do it on an older 38'race boat with an inner forestay singlehanded.

 

[michael_w]

Can you gybe end-for-end rather dip pole? Two fixed rings would give you adequate flexibility. Low one for reaching/light winds and a higher one for running.

End-for-end gybes are OK up to say, 35' boats. Need to have double sheets and guys though.