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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Asymetrical Spinnaker

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sgoodhue
1st Mate

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USA
28 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/12/2008 : 16:43:42

OK...so I need to hear from those that have gone before me. I have purchased a Rolly Tasker Starcut asymetical spinnaker 499sqft with launcher. She's a beaut. I have my own thoughts (outlined below) on how to secure the tack. What say the experts?

I am thinking 316 stainless bar which is 1/8 x 3/4 x 4' bent to the shape of the bows, then securing it to the inside, forward section of the toerail with machine screws. The apex of which will extend 6" past the bows. To that point I will drill a hole through which a a 12" pennant of 7/19 wire will be affixed to a snapshackle on swivel. This will allow the sail/launcher to reside outside of the roller gear and freedom of movement.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2008 : 16:52:19

[url="http://www.atninc.com/tacker.html"]ATN Tacker[/url]

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sgoodhue
1st Mate

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USA
28 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2008 : 20:24:50

Well, Don that certainly ended all debate. Done. Just ordered the tacker online. Thanks! Love simplicity.

Scott
Whimsy
C25TRFK

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2008 : 06:25:45

I think the reason you received so little response is because we don't understand from your description what you're planning to do. I read it repeatedly and don't understand what roller gear your boat has, and how and why you plan to install the 316 stainless bar. It's difficult to explain, verbally, an idea that's in your mind, but if you can clarify your question, you'll get better answers.

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skrenz
Captain

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USA
351 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2008 : 15:43:48

I'm not at all sure I would have used this ATN tacker. I have an asymmetrical spinnaker that came with the boat I just purchased. The PO told me they simply attached a block to the stem head and ran the lead for the tack through it and up to the tack of the sail. Since I have yet to sail mine, I have done a bit of reading about these. Seems that you get an advantage if you are using a bow sprit and pushing the tack out further from the forward stay. This moves the sail out from behind the shadow of the main and allows you to run further off the wind. But this isn't effected by the roller reefing gear either way. When you fly an asymmetrical spinnaker, the tack is well up off the deck and hence out of the way of the reefing gear. The page sited shows a picture of the same tack lead set up. Is the ATN tacker perhaps for flying a regular symmetrical spinnaker as an asymmetrical spinnaker?

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2008 : 01:38:28

Steve,

Even though I have both symetrical and asymetrical spinnakers, I'm by no means an expert. With that said, devices like the Tacker, parrel beads, bridle straps, are intended to keep the tack of the asymetrical/cruising spinnaker closer to the centerline of the boat.

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2008 : 09:24:16

Steve,

There are a number of different ways to rig and fly an asymmetrical spinnaker. Mine was equipped with a heavy dacron "tacker" and although I have hank-on sails, I use that on my forestay along with a fixed 4' pennant (downhaul) clipped to the stem fitting. This swings the tack of the sail around the forestay. I rig my gennaker sheets inside the forestay and gybe it like a genoa jib. Easy to do singlehanded from the cockpit.

Cruising Direct provides some good info on asymmetrical spinnakers, which you may find useful:
[url="http://www.cruisingdirect.com/GennakerSnufferInstructions.htm"]Spinnaker sock[/url]
[url="http://www.cruisingdirect.com/RiggingGennaker.htm"]Rigging[/url]
[url="http://www.cruisingdirect.com/UsingaGennaker.htm"]Hoisting, flying, gybing, and dousing[/url]

This year I also plan to try a running tack line led from the bow through a turning block to a cam cleat on the cabin top or rail that I need to install. The sail can be flattened with this extra rigging, and this apparently adds driving force closer to the wind, as shown by info on this [url="http://www.ukhalsey.com/LearningCenter/encyclopedia/encyclopedia4d.asp"]web page[/url] from the sailmaker UK Halsey.

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2008 : 12:44:30

Flying the gennaker on a broad reach or a run, I relax and find things very peaceful, since there's little sound of the wind and the waves.

Here is a video of the other end of the spectrum, racing on a Meiges 24 with an asymmetrical kite with a helsman and 3 crew members. They need to have the sheets outside the forestay since the tack of the kite is held on a bowsprit. [url="http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=8L_JO_y_a48&feature=related"]Another way to have fun.[/url]

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skrenz
Captain

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USA
351 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2008 : 10:48:42

JohnP,
Really excellent video on handling an asymmetrical spinnaker. Thanks a lot. Only problem with this video to applying it to the Cat 25 is that the Meiges 24 uses a bow sprit and with it jibs the spinnaker inside the luff instead of on a Cat 25 with a bow tack jibbing outside and around the luff. Timing though seems the same as does the importance of coordination between crew. So once again, great video and thanks. Maybe the "tacker" allows you to jibe inside the forestay.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2008 : 11:25:08

As long as the asymetric's tac is attached to the stem fitting, you must jibe the sail outside the headstay. Otherwise the halyard will be between the forsay and mast and will chafe on the stay..

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2008 : 11:56:05

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2008 : 12:10:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by aeckhart
 As long as the asymetric's tac is attached to the stem fitting, you must jibe the sail outside the headstay. Otherwise the halyard will be between the forsay and mast and will chafe on the stay..
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Arghh!!! There's the rub!

I'll check my spin halyard this weekend. I seem to remember that the bunched up sock pushes the halyard away from the headstay. There's no sense in causing unnecessary chafing of the line.

I can rig it outside and be safe. It's still gybed from the cockpit, of course. Nice diagram, Don!

(You know, if you read this discussion board, you might learn something about your boat once in a while.)

Edited by - JohnP on 04/16/2008 12:13:50

sgoodhue
1st Mate

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USA
28 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2008 : 12:57:31

OK...how about attaching a single swivel block to the stem fitting aft of the forestay, run the pennant aft thru a couple of foot blocks or a deck organizer then thru a clutch. I'm going to run my spinnaker halyard, and now, pennant adjustment (tack) and ATN dowser controls on port side of cabin top. This is opposite of my main/heads'l halyards which are controlled thru the same setup on the strb'd cabin top. I think with the new step and block plate to accomodate my boomkicker, my deck should be well organized....now if I can just get my wife to do all the work!!!

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2008 : 13:32:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by sgoodhue
 OK...how about attaching a single swivel block to the stem fitting aft of the forestay, run the pennant aft thru a couple of foot blocks or a deck organizer then thru a clutch. I'm going to run my spinnaker halyard, and now, pennant adjustment (tack) and ATN dowser controls on port side of cabin top. This is opposite of my main/heads'l halyards which are controlled thru the same setup on the strb'd cabin top. I think with the new step and block plate to accomodate my boomkicker, my deck should be well organized....now if I can just get my wife to do all the work!!!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Sounds feasible except for getting the Admiral to do the work!

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skrenz
Captain

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USA
351 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2008 : 19:22:03

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2008 : 11:53:10

I may be preaching to the choir but, on an asymetric spinnaker the tack of the sail is supposed to be attached to the headstay. The tack line controls the up and down adjustment of the sail as the course is changed. When the boat has roller furling the tack can't be attached to the headstay. The ATN Tacker is designed to allow attachment to the stay. It rides over the the furled headsail as it is adjusted up and down. It's a neat idea although it adds a step to launching the sail.

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