wisker pole

firstascent2002

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lets talk poles...

I have never flown a spini on a boat larger than my old seal 22. The new 30 footer has a spini pole and a shorter pole (a wisker pole?). The shorter pole has a hook with a pin lock at one end (could clip to the mast, toe rail...who knows) and at the other end a rolling wheel for a rope to run in...what exactly am I supposed to do with it? Its about 5 foot long and looks like its been used plenty! Th rolling wheel will only hold a rope in under tension as there is is nothing else to secure the rope into the sheve.

thanks in advance as always

J
 

firstascent2002

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funny you should ask...only avaliable on very intermittant contact as jaunting away on his new sadler 34 in south america currently...that's why i thought of you guys...never let me down yet.

J
 

Kurrawong_Kid

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I believe it is to prop the windward sheet (guy?) off the shroud to prevent chafe. One end goes on the mast and the sheave on the sheet. No idea what they are called! SWMBO took ours off the boat and put it in the garage because we have never had the spinnaker up long enough without a "discussion" to justify having the pole aboard-I was lucky the spinnaker didnt join the pole in the garage as well!
 

Krusty

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Jamie, what you have is a 'jockey-pole' : (it rides on the spinnaker guy to keep it under control).
When do you need it? Only when you change course from a run, or broad reach, towards a beam reach and have to sheet the spinnaker clew further aft and ease out the guy, allowing the pole to move towards the forestay. That narrows the angle between the pole and its guy and markedly increases the strain on both.
You take the jockey pole forward of the mast, plug its inner end into its socket on the mast (or maybe into a second ring on the forward side of the mast, the spinnaker pole being in the first): then place the sheave in the end against the guy and push it aft along the guy towards the shrouds. That opens out the angle of the guy to reduce the strain, and allows you to ease the spinnaker pole all the way to touch the forestay (but not rest on it). At that, you can close-reach under spinnaker. A 'tri-radial' is best for this point of sailing: fast, 'on-the-edge', and stressful!
You will have guessed by now that it is beloved of racing crews and shunned by cruisers!
I hope that explains it well enough. Have fun!
 

William_H

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Yes it is likely a jockey pole. My boat came with one but I tend to do without it on a shy reach under spinny.
The pole can however be used as a whisker pole to pole out the jib for stability and drive. Ther jib sheet may stay in the slot and sheave but if it won't you could try a hole at rightangles for a pin to hold the rope captive. (or use piece of string) or you could fit a normal spin pole end fitting on the pole.
The whisker pole can be set from the mast or from a toe rail or even the side stay. It doesn't necessarily have to be very long to get the clew out enough to improve the sheeting over just the inboard sheet cars. Spinnacker poles are usually too long although usable. Give it a try. good luck olewill
 

tyga

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I agree it's a jockey pole.
AFAIK a whisker pole is a light pole (hence whisker) used to stop a jib from collapsing when sailing downwind. On a smallish boat (say a 23 footer) a long boathook can be an effective solution. The load from a jib, when sailing downwind, on the whisker pole is far less than a spinnaker exerts on a pole when reaching.
 
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