Cruising spinnaker (POLELESS)

[Paul Saltzman]

My CD 25' is rigged with a CDI roller furled 135% genny. The light air of july and August keeps me at a snails paste, actually I was passed by a snail on Sunday. Has anyone any advise and or suggestions on using a poleless cruising spinnaker. I do a lot of sailing solo and or with novices. Like to hear what you have to say.

Smooth Sailing;
paul



saltzma@ibm.net or saltzman@aecom.yu.edu

[Jerry Hammernik]

Paul, I have a cruising spinnaker on my CD 25. I added a block on the bail at the masthead and ran a separate halyard. The sail will carry from wind aft to farther ahead of the beam than I would have ever thought possible. In light air the sail is worth 1.5 k over my 150. It is simple to fly. There is a snap shackle that goes around the forestay and a pennant that I put through the jenny shackle and then cleat to the big cleat on the foredeck. I usually just set one sheet up. I move the headsail car all the way aft on the track. If the wind is dead astern I do have a whisker pole which can help hold the sail. Once the wind goes over the quarter the pole is not needed at all. I often sail singlehanded and have flown the chute without problems by myself. I use a Tiller Master auto pilot. The only thing I want for it now is a sock. I have friends that use a sock and it really makes setting and dousing simple. Mine is 1/2 oz. nylon. Great sail and it can really change light air days into good sailing days. Many times I find that it flies easier if I drop the main. The main can often block the wind into the spinnaker. The only real problem I've run into is that in really light air, the wakes of power boats screws it up big time. Good Luck.

Jerry



dauntles@execpc.com