Stepping up to a proper yacht - next lesson.

[RupertW]

I loved flying a spinnaker on my first 24 footer and we mostly sailed as a couple. I had never flown one in a dinghy.

Although I am a snuffer fan on our current 42 footer I would drop it down the main hatch every time on a much smaller boat because it is so easy and manageable doing it that way. Basically letting hauling it under the boom and down the hatch (by the most confident person) while the other person holds the boat on a broad reach is a doddle and good fun too. I found it much harder at first setting up all the ropes and getting it hoisted and full. After the first season it was all so much easier that many times I was alone at the helm for hour or two in the Solent ( and better still the trips back from Poole to the Needles where the wind was often light but perfect).

But our experience was that my wife spent a fair few times watching me set up the pole and ropes while the boat was going nicely under the genoa but very rarely actually hoisting the spinnaker until the whole routine was, well, routine.

On our 31 footer a decade later we never used the spinnaker at all because it all felt too big and powerful.

 

[ashtead]

I recall flying a triradial spinnaker on a Centaur a few times and was only time it really felt like it was moving . On a larger boat prefer a cruising chute but that might be just a reflection of how times move on. On a GK 24 also added to fun of a few races even if we down the pack . On a smaller boat you might practice with a smaller dingy spi to gain confidence . I am not saying use a mirror dingy size but learning to tame a smaller one might be a solution as a starter if you worry about effect.

 

[Stemar]

So Stemar, your comment there is no difference between a poled out genoa and a spinnaker is totally wrong.

I never said there is no difference between a poled out genoa and a spinnaker. I said that on my boat, it made next to no difference. Jissel's a tubby bilge keeler and not the world's fastest by any means. On my handicap, if I finished the RTI before the 2200 cutoff, I'd probably have won

 

[solent clown]

After this weekend, we would say the next biggest difference with a proper yacht over a dinghy or microcruiser is the draft puts us much more "into the mix" with other boats and yachts on the Solent rather than being able to use the shores and shallows for a more uninterrupted experience. it is not a negative really, as sailing a bigger boat has rewards of it's own, not least the ease of making distance, and infinitely less worry about swells and wakes.

 

[langstonelayabout]

I recall flying a triradial spinnaker on a Centaur a few times and was only time it really felt like it was moving . On a larger boat prefer a cruising chute but that might be just a reflection of how times move on. On a GK 24 also added to fun of a few races even if we down the pack . On a smaller boat you might practice with a smaller dingy spi to gain confidence . I am not saying use a mirror dingy size but learning to tame a smaller one might be a solution as a starter if you worry about effect.

What??? Do you realise that, at the tender age of 12, that Mirror dinghy spinnaker flapping in a force 4 is VICIOUS! lol

And at the age of 52, I'd wonder if it was big enough to wipe my nose on, having used spinnakers for years. They aren't that scary, but you do need to tell them who's boss...

And mind the spreaders when you are lowering the thing; I've put some huge rips in some where they caught the spreaders and I thought a stronger pull might unstick what seemed like a jammed halyard.

 

[Cactus Sailing]

After this weekend, we would say the next biggest difference with a proper yacht over a dinghy or microcruiser is the draft puts us much more "into the mix" with other boats and yachts on the Solent rather than being able to use the shores and shallows for a more uninterrupted experience. it is not a negative really, as sailing a bigger boat has rewards of it's own, not least the ease of making distance, and infinitely less worry about swells and wakes.

did you get the spinnaker out then?

saw a few flying over the weekend although the majority of sailboats opted for the Iron sail for some reason?!? we were reasonably going 6-7knts COG with the small breeze that was there.

 

[FairweatherDave]

I was wondering if you got the spinnaker out too? 'Twas this thread that got me thinking about a spinnaker sail this weekend too. Only the second time I've ever flown ours and that was in 2016. But the wind was so light in the early morning it had to be done. Took ages to remember how to rig it all but so satisfying once up. Sadly my crew was a bit sleep deprived and hungry and didn't appreciate my efforts to make 2 knots over the ground so after twenty minutes it went back in the sock.... Can't wait to do more now though. Cheers Solent Clown for prompting me

 

[solent clown]

We didn't, as when I unpacked it i found it was damaged, so it is being repaired. To add to the woes, we ripped the jib slightly today too, then tangled it up furling it in on of all things, the disused spinnaker sheet tied off to the pulpit! Today I wish we had it, we left at about 5.50 am for the IOW, and ended up motoring all the way in a flat calm. things got more lively later though.