I have heard it said that the 2 happiest days for a boat owner are the day you buy the boat and the day that you sell the boat. Yesterday, in the course of 45 minutes, I sold Seboomook (cd27) and bought Eagle (cd33). How's that for a joyous day?
As I was gathering Seboomook's gear to transfer to the new owner I came across the 2 extra sails that came with Seboomook when I bought her. There was a storm sail and a spinnaker neither of which had been out of their sail bags in the 6 years that I have owned the boat. Before they were gone I had to at least see the spinnaker so I pulled it out in my lawn to take a look and was then kicking myself for never trying to fly it. I repacked it and now all the gear has been transferred to the new owner.
So now here comes Eagle with a ton of extra gear including 2 extra sails, a storm sail and a spinnaker. This time I want to get the spinnaker figured out. I pulled the spinnaker out on my lawn and tried to figure out how I would rig it. It's an asymmetrical so I get that I have to have a place to secure the tack somehow ahead of the roller furler and run the sheets outside of everything. What I don't quite get is how the sock works. There is a small line attached to the top hoop and runs through a few rings down the sock and then attaches to the bottom hoop. There is a block connected to the top hoop with a short piece of line. It seems like I would have to run another line from the deck, through the block and back to the bottom hoop. Once the halyard is raised I could then pull this line and it would pull the bottom hoop up releasing the sail. Of course I would then need another line attached to the bottom hoop to pull it back down.
In case it isn't obvious, I have never flown a spinnaker before but would love to get this figured out. Can anyone explain what I need to do and dumb it down to my level (which is quite far down).
Thanks for any help.
Doug
Miracles do happen!
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Doug Oliver
- Posts: 61
- Joined: Feb 13th, '05, 06:55
- Location: CD33 Lola
Bucks Harbor, Maine
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Steve Laume
- Posts: 4127
- Joined: Feb 13th, '05, 20:40
- Location: Raven1984 Cape Dory 30C Hull #309Noank, CT
- Contact:
Doug, major congratulations to you!
It seems like it would be a whole lot harder to explain how to fly your spinnaker than it will be to do it.
Someone should be able to direct you to a web site with video. The asymmetrical just can't be that hard to figure out. The sock becomes self evident as soon as you raise the sail.
If you are really unsure of yourself, you could pick a windless day and spin your boat around so she is moored from the stern. You could then play with raising and dousing your spinnaker.
A word of caution that I have not really gotten spanked for. Do not carry the big sail for too long! By too long I mean if the wind strengthens to exhilarating the spinnaker should probably come down unless you have a full crew of deck apes. Remember it never seems as strong on a run. By the time it needs to come down you will be on a screaming run at hull speed. The time between unsheeting and bagging gets blustery.
The other aspect of waiting too long applies no matter what the wind speed. While mostly single handing it takes me a little while to get a either a spinnaker or reacher down. You do not want a rocky shore as a dead line. A sandy one either for that matter.
You are going to love your new boat and that big sail, Steve.
It seems like it would be a whole lot harder to explain how to fly your spinnaker than it will be to do it.
Someone should be able to direct you to a web site with video. The asymmetrical just can't be that hard to figure out. The sock becomes self evident as soon as you raise the sail.
If you are really unsure of yourself, you could pick a windless day and spin your boat around so she is moored from the stern. You could then play with raising and dousing your spinnaker.
A word of caution that I have not really gotten spanked for. Do not carry the big sail for too long! By too long I mean if the wind strengthens to exhilarating the spinnaker should probably come down unless you have a full crew of deck apes. Remember it never seems as strong on a run. By the time it needs to come down you will be on a screaming run at hull speed. The time between unsheeting and bagging gets blustery.
The other aspect of waiting too long applies no matter what the wind speed. While mostly single handing it takes me a little while to get a either a spinnaker or reacher down. You do not want a rocky shore as a dead line. A sandy one either for that matter.
You are going to love your new boat and that big sail, Steve.
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kerlandsen
- Posts: 154
- Joined: Sep 10th, '07, 15:06
- Location: Sea Sprite 28, Emma L. #13
http://www.atninc.com/
Google ATN Spinnaker and you will see many videos on the snuffing process.
I for one am not a fan of the sleeves, but then again I spent most of my non-cruising time wrestling large spinnakers on the bow of a J44.
I have heard many stories of the sleeve getting jammed or something.
Also, a good idea to learn to sail deep so you can put the spin behind the main and drop in the lee of the main. Maybe even learn the Letterbox drop method, which requires a releasable tack fitting or a long line.
Google ATN Spinnaker and you will see many videos on the snuffing process.
I for one am not a fan of the sleeves, but then again I spent most of my non-cruising time wrestling large spinnakers on the bow of a J44.
I have heard many stories of the sleeve getting jammed or something.
Also, a good idea to learn to sail deep so you can put the spin behind the main and drop in the lee of the main. Maybe even learn the Letterbox drop method, which requires a releasable tack fitting or a long line.
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Steve Laume
- Posts: 4127
- Joined: Feb 13th, '05, 20:40
- Location: Raven1984 Cape Dory 30C Hull #309Noank, CT
- Contact:
I just watched the video.
They make it look so easy. The happy mellow music must help. It looks like at least a three or four person crew. I like the fact that they included a woman on the fore deck. She is probably on the all woman crew of the last Americas Cup team. A large cat so the deck is level and not pitching. Looks like about four knots of wind. I think they pretty well covered the bases to make it look like child's play.
Still it is not that hard.
I have a off brand sock for my symmetrical spinnaker. The reacher I just handle by tucking it in behind the main as long as it behaves itself it works fine without a sock.
So what is this letterbox technique I should know about?
The one thing you can pretty much count on is that once you get a big sail up and pulling the wind will increase, Steve.
They make it look so easy. The happy mellow music must help. It looks like at least a three or four person crew. I like the fact that they included a woman on the fore deck. She is probably on the all woman crew of the last Americas Cup team. A large cat so the deck is level and not pitching. Looks like about four knots of wind. I think they pretty well covered the bases to make it look like child's play.
Still it is not that hard.
I have a off brand sock for my symmetrical spinnaker. The reacher I just handle by tucking it in behind the main as long as it behaves itself it works fine without a sock.
So what is this letterbox technique I should know about?
The one thing you can pretty much count on is that once you get a big sail up and pulling the wind will increase, Steve.
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kerlandsen
- Posts: 154
- Joined: Sep 10th, '07, 15:06
- Location: Sea Sprite 28, Emma L. #13
http://j44resolute.com/articles/anatomy ... wn_pt4.htm
(not the J44 I have been racing on, but these guys are working towards the top)
http://sailmagazine.com/cruising/tips-t ... ndex2.aspx
There is also the Samari Douse. (yea, some of these people are my friends, not proud, or tired)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyeFUc5gzuQ
(not the J44 I have been racing on, but these guys are working towards the top)
http://sailmagazine.com/cruising/tips-t ... ndex2.aspx
There is also the Samari Douse. (yea, some of these people are my friends, not proud, or tired)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyeFUc5gzuQ
I want to hear how you managed to buy and sell a boat on the same day. That sounds like a miracle.
I laughed at this post because I have had a beautiful colorful spinnaker sitting in a bag in my garage. I have the pole and a place to mount it on the mast and I don't see taking it out this year.
Keep us posted on how it works out.
I laughed at this post because I have had a beautiful colorful spinnaker sitting in a bag in my garage. I have the pole and a place to mount it on the mast and I don't see taking it out this year.
Keep us posted on how it works out.
Seajunkie
Hello,
I found the video from North Sails to be helpful when thinking about trying to fly a spinnaker. After studying the videos for several days and then spending a couple of hours checking that the lines were fair and rigged reasonably, I was once able to fly the spinnaker for several seconds! And it was time well spent.
If the link doesn't work try to search for North Sails Gennaker Handling video.
Good luck
http://na1.northsails.com/video_gen/vid ... tion=flash
I found the video from North Sails to be helpful when thinking about trying to fly a spinnaker. After studying the videos for several days and then spending a couple of hours checking that the lines were fair and rigged reasonably, I was once able to fly the spinnaker for several seconds! And it was time well spent.
If the link doesn't work try to search for North Sails Gennaker Handling video.
Good luck
http://na1.northsails.com/video_gen/vid ... tion=flash