What's my spinnaker eyelet for?

[ash2020]

I'm just dusting off the spinnaker from my old Jaguar 23 to use on my new Hunter 235. I've given it a wash and proof and it looks quite good. One puzzling thing though. Right in the middle there is a reinforcement sewn in with a brass eyelet in it. It was obviously put in when the sail was made, it's not a repair. What on earth is it for?

 

[dunedin]

Dinghy spinnakers often have this for a downhaul rope to pull the spinnaker down into a spinny chute.
Some small yachts (eg Sonata) used to have similar.

Could the boat have once had something similar?

 

[rob2]

Yes, I have sailed on R19 in Poole with a similar set-up. The spinnaker has a recovery line which passes through a bag whose mouth is strapped into the pulpit. It launches straight up on the halyard, and the sail whips out of the chute as it fills. Recovery is just as quick as the recovery line simply plucks the sail by its centre and down into the chute. The chute looks very much like a short version of a snuffer and it lies along the side deck, as said with the mouth strapped into the pulpit.

Mind you, it doesn't stop idiot crew from hoisting upside down if the lines are clipped to the wrong corners. We once hoisted three times before I got it right (despite the hangover) - a downwind race start right in front of the clubhouse!

Rob.

 

[ash2020]

Haha! It's always when there's plenty of people watching!
It's quite a large kite dunedin, 7.2 metres luff.
What happens to the line when you're sailing? Doesn't it weigh down the sail in very light airs?

 

[Robin]

Yes, I have sailed on R19 in Poole with a similar set-up. The spinnaker has a recovery line which passes through a bag whose mouth is strapped into the pulpit. It launches straight up on the halyard, and the sail whips out of the chute as it fills. Recovery is just as quick as the recovery line simply plucks the sail by its centre and down into the chute. The chute looks very much like a short version of a snuffer and it lies along the side deck, as said with the mouth strapped into the pulpit.

Mind you, it doesn't stop idiot crew from hoisting upside down if the lines are clipped to the wrong corners. We once hoisted three times before I got it right (despite the hangover) - a downwind race start right in front of the clubhouse!

Rob.

Poole YC then I guess!, PYC members would get it right.

 

[William_H]

Haha! It's always when there's plenty of people watching!
It's quite a large kite dunedin, 7.2 metres luff.
What happens to the line when you're sailing? Doesn't it weigh down the sail in very light airs?

yes the line to the middle of the spin will possibly cause drag and mis shape in light winds. It is just a compromise you accept and use very thin strong line. olewill

 

[dunedin]

yes the line to the middle of the spin will possibly cause drag and mis shape in light winds. It is just a compromise you accept and use very thin strong line. olewill

Yes, use as light string/rope as possible. But also one reason why this has largely fallen out of fashion except in performance dinghies and asymmetric sports boats

 

[rob2]

Poole YC then I guess!, PYC members would get it right.

The only club with a dedicated R19 pontoon... No names, no pack drill, eh? The boat name began with an "R". I believe the others in the fleet excused my mate any stupidity when I was visiting and went racing with him. Mind you, if the rest of the fleet hadn't gone home early the night before they may have done the same.

Rob.

 

[Robin]

The only club with a dedicated R19 pontoon... No names, no pack drill, eh? The boat name began with an "R". I believe the others in the fleet excused my mate any stupidity when I was visiting and went racing with him. Mind you, if the rest of the fleet hadn't gone home early the night before they may have done the same.

Rob.

Does Geoff Gwinett still race an R19 there, if you see him tell him Hi from me, ex LSC race rival from way back and joint conspirators to try and get a marina in the Lilliput lagoon. and later at Parkstone (still overseas member there) Great harbour and great clubs.

 

[rob2]

Sorry, haven't been to PYC for a few years now. I was only ever a visitor so never remembered the names of all the people I met in the bar - not surprising as it was alweays the cheapest place to get a few beers in!

I did once have the offer of a third place cup which my mate couldn't bear to display. It was one of those races in a series that coincided with most peoples' holidays, so when I turned up on the doorstop we decided to race. It was a long course and as we were missing the normal third crew member we avoided the competitive elements of chasing the leader and tacking for each header, choosing to take the clear air on the wrong tack. Every time the leaders crossed our path, we would make a display of lounging at ease only a yard or two behind them, sipping at our beer cans. Coming to the finish line, they shot off on a fresh tack when headed, so we opted to pinch up to the line rather than just follow them in, hoping that they might lose a little time luffing each other. It nearly worked - we finished only three seconds behind the winner, winning the third place cup. Unfortunately there were only three boats out that day...

Rob.

 

[Robin]

Sorry, haven't been to PYC for a few years now. I was only ever a visitor so never remembered the names of all the people I met in the bar - not surprising as it was alweays the cheapest place to get a few beers in!

I did once have the offer of a third place cup which my mate couldn't bear to display. It was one of those races in a series that coincided with most peoples' holidays, so when I turned up on the doorstop we decided to race. It was a long course and as we were missing the normal third crew member we avoided the competitive elements of chasing the leader and tacking for each header, choosing to take the clear air on the wrong tack. Every time the leaders crossed our path, we would make a display of lounging at ease only a yard or two behind them, sipping at our beer cans. Coming to the finish line, they shot off on a fresh tack when headed, so we opted to pinch up to the line rather than just follow them in, hoping that they might lose a little time luffing each other. It nearly worked - we finished only three seconds behind the winner, winning the third place cup. Unfortunately there were only three boats out that day...



Rob.

Never mind. BTW PYC is Parkstone YC, POOLE is simply 'POOLE' YC, excellent club but PYC Is top of the heap and the senior club locally, but we never raced R19s except as part of the annual regatta day as a concession to our neighbours. I started out with LIlliput SC around 1970 but moved to Parkstone in later years when we had bigger boats and cruised farther afield

 

[rob2]

Mea culpa! Of course Parkstone is the senior club - wasn't thinking clearly and when I've visited Poole YC's marina by sea, the VHF callsign is "Pike". Now I realise the reason for the way they spell it in the almanac!

Rob.