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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Cruising Spinnaker ?

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jmeadows
1st Mate

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52 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/05/2003 : 21:18:33

This Sat I'm ready to try my first at flying a spinnaker.
I think I have a good understanding of how to set it up with one question.

I have a dousing sock and I'm unsure where to secure the sock control lines after I raise the sock to the top. Do I secure then to the mask or what?

Going to be a lot of fun with temps to be in the 80's

Jim Meadows
John B
1989 Tall Rig WK
Phoenix, Arizona

Edited by - jmeadows on 03/05/2003 21:22:50

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MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 03/06/2003 : 01:17:23

Jim,
When finances available themselves to us again, the admrial and I would also like to get an asymetrical. Did you have to do a lot of addition to your boat to fly one. I think I need to get blocks for the back of the boat for the sheets. My mast has internal halyards, but I think for one for a spinaker it has to be external. Do I also need a halyard to raise and lower the sock or is there some other method to douse the sail?

Matt/Brigitte Loeffler
E.C. Rider
Cat 25 86'
FK/SR _/)

Edited by - on

Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 03/06/2003 : 03:58:11

I am not sure if this is "right", but when I fly the cruising chute I attach the control lines to a cleat on the mast itself. Actually, I may tie them quickly onto the ring that is used for the spinnaker pole for the racing chute, it's been too many months! BTW, have you rigged an adjustable, sliding "tack" ring of some kind for the tack of the spinnaker? It sure has helped mine be more efficient in different conditions. I also attach a caribiner clip from the tack to around the forestay.
Have fun, but I wouldn't fly it the first time in 12+ knots or so....

Gary B.
Encore! #685 SK/SR

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jmeadows
1st Mate

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52 Posts

Response Posted - 03/06/2003 : 18:54:33

Thanks alot
The spinnaker came with the boat but I have never had it out of the bag

The only thing I added was a line (w/ eyelets)from the cockpit to a block on the bow for a down haul
The boat had blocks behind the winch's
I think I'm going to use a sail tie to tie the tack loosely to the furling system.
Because I have a furling system I can use the jib halyard.
Matt,it is my understanding the the sock comes with the control lines, hope so or I'm screwed this weekend.
I'll use your ideal Gary, and tie them to the mask.

Jim Meadows
John B
1989 Tall Rig WK
Phoenix, Arizona

Edited by - jmeadows on 03/06/2003 19:50:56

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/06/2003 : 23:16:28

This is an excerpt from a Sailnet article titled, "Using the Asymmetrical Spinnaker" by Brian Hancock

"...If you've had no prior, or very little, experience with the spinnaker sock, I'd recommend experimenting with it on a calm day when the wind is light so that you can get used to it and its control lines. It is important to mark the tack line and the sheet with reference points so that when you are setting the spinnaker you are able to duplicate the position of the sail. In other words, before you hoist the sock and the spinnaker fills with air, you want to be sure that the tack line is tight enough and your sheet is set just about right. If the sheet is too loose the spinnaker will flap and might wrap around the forestay. If the sheet is too tight it will cause you to round up and possibly broach. Using a piece of tape and whipping twine mark your running rigging against a reference point on the boat such as where the sheet goes through the block or where it meets the winch.

The second most important thing you can do is run the sock control lines through a ratchet block that is fixed securely to your deck. With this arrangement, you will be pulling up from the deck when dousing the sail rather than pulling down, which might put you off balance and cause you to fall down. The ratchet block has two purposes. First, the ratchet makes it easier to control the line and secondly the noise of the ratchet will tell you which way the line is running through the block, and consequently, if you are pulling the line to douse the sail or the line to set it. This is particularly useful at night or when you have to douse in a hurry. Finally, always remember to use the dead air in the lee of your mainsail to your advantage. Have the person at the helm run off to a broad angle so that you can pull down the sock while the spinnaker is in the lee of the mainsail. You also might want to take note of the wind angle that works best so that the next time you need to drop the sail you have an additional reference point. Never try and get the sail down on a reach—it will flap out to leeward, making it impossible to douse. When the boat is on the proper wind angle to blanket the spinnaker behind the main, release the tack line and let the sail float toward the main where you will easily be able to snug it with the sock."

Here's the link to the article.

http://www.sailnet.com/collections/racing/index.cfm?articleid=hancoc0010

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2cc32b3127cce92e981259d130000001010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

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osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 03/07/2003 : 07:11:11

<i>osmepneo </i>has an internal spinniker halyard which I use to raise the spinniker encased in the sock. The sock has its own control lines to hoist and lower it which I cleat to a spare cleat on the mast.

In my opinion the important thing is to get the cruising chute up, and working so that you gain some experience with it. then you can make adjustments to your procedure to make the whole process work better for you. That is the p[hase I'm hoping to work on this summer.

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 03/07/2003 : 10:54:52

Jim,

You need to remember that the asymetric spinnaker is not a true downwind sail, but an off-wind sail. It will not fill if sailing downwind. This can be very frustrating when learning. It is best sailed on a broad reach, tacking periodically to achieve the desired course. I've been sailing mine for three years and still can't say that I've mastered it yet. It's great fun though. My goal is to single hand with it. Good luck.

Al
GALLIVANT #5801

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.