Date: 8/16/2006
Name: Joe Martin
email: joe.martin@anmedhealth.org

subject:
Double handing with spinnaker



The collective we on the Bottom Line prefer to sail double handed with the spinnaker rather than with three people. There are occasions where the extra hands/weight would help but we think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages in most of our sailing conditions. Anyone witnessing our leeward mark fire drills at NA/E Nat's this year might disagree.

Anyway, below is a little outline of the process on the Bottom Line. The outline assumes using tweakers instead of the traditional downhaul leading to the base of the mast. In light/medium air, the traditional downhaul might actually work a little better to keep the bounce out of the pole. We took the tweakers off in the light stuff at NA's. Also, use a contiuous loop of rope on the topping lift/downhaul so you don't have to worry about losing it.

Hope this helps a little.

Rigging
...  Rig jib/Genoa first.
...  Rig tweakers
......  Untie one clasp
......  Thread and retie (under everything)
...  Spinnaker sheets
......  Over everything
......  Rig both sides to bow
......  Tie sheet & guy together.
......  Attach halyard to sheets
......  Bring combination back on portside
......  Untie bundle & attach to spinnaker
......  Check topping lift for tangles

Putting up chute (bear away set)
...  Starboard Tack
...  Release topping lift
...  Get Pole from cabin
...  Attach to guy forward of tweaker
...  Attach topping lift
...  Attach pole to mast ring
...  Level Pole
...  Cleat Guy & Guy tweaker
...  Cleat sheet
...  As Joe falls off Raise spinnaker
...  Sheet in Guy to bring sail around.
...  Sheet in sheet to trim sail
...  Check tweakers
...  Drop Jib

Gybing
...  Spin sheet to Joe under Main sheet
...  Guy to Joe
...  Cleat sheet tweaker
...  Uncleat guy tweaker on the way forward
...  Unhook pole from mast loop
...  Unhook pole from guy
...  Hook pole to new guy
...  Hook pole to mast loop
...  Back into cockpit on windward side push Main over if needed
...  Adjust pole height
...  Retrieve spin sheet & guy from Joe & Trim

Take down
...  Jib up & sheeted in moderately tight.
...  Give Joe guy
...  Spin sheet to Joe under Main sheet
...  Release pole from mast & guy
...  Remove pole from topping lift & reattach topping lift to mast ring
...  Store pole
...  Snug topping lift
...  Pull in foot of spinnaker
...  Blow spinnaker halyard
...  Store the sail in the companion way
...  Trim jib



[Return to Harbor Messages | Create New/Followup Message]