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Cruising Shute

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Jonathan Cuff
Navigator

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Cayman Island
173 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/08/2004 : 09:22:18

Hi

Tomorrow I'm participating in the round the island race and the winds are very light. I think I will use the cruising shute, but to be honest we really haven't used it all that much. I know you can't go directly down wind with the cruising shute, but can anyone give me some advice on the best way to use it please? Should I use the main as well at the same time, or maybe just use the 150% genoa and not worry too much about the shute.

Any inputs would be great!

Cheers

Pie Sees 2 C25 #5686 1987 SR/WK

Edited by - on

Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2004 : 10:25:30

Hi Jonathan,

If you're serious about the race, you might want to just use your main and 150. The cruising chute is a great sail, but can be difficult if you haven't practiced with it. I remember well on race in which we'd had a great downwind run with main and crusing chute. As we approached the downwind mark, my crew doused the chute and raised the genny. Somehow, my crew got the spinnaker halyard caught on the genny halyard and raised both sails as I was turning the boat to head back upwind. The resulting wrap of sails and lines was impressive to all who passed us by.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

Edited by - on

Jonathan Cuff
Navigator

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Cayman Island
173 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2004 : 11:17:49

Many thanks Bill. Does the cruising shute make much difference in speed or with a 150 genoa is it not that much?

Cheers

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2004 : 12:29:51

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Does the cruising shute make much difference in speed or with a 150 genoa is it not that much? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I know you asked that question of Bill, but one of the great things about this forum is that we are all free to offer our opinions, even if we haven't been asked!

It depends. 1) One consideration is whether you have to give up handicap time for a cruising chute, or, whether your handicap will be the same regardless of whether you fly a 150 or a chute. 2) Another consideration is wind strength. In very light air, the cruising chute will be helpful. In moderate or stronger winds, I don't think the cruising chute offers any significant advantage.

Edited by - on

jwilliams
Captain

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USA
357 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2004 : 16:11:25

Who says you can't go downwind with a cruising chute?

Two weeks ago Hey Jude sailed from Alcatraz to Brisbane, about 9mi., with the cruising chute whisker poled out on the portside and the main wing-on-wing with a preventer on the Stb.

It was a strange wind spring day, 'cause usually the wind would be hammering from the WSW. On this day it was NW.

Some say you can rig the cruising chute just like a spinnaker, it just lacks the perfect symmetrical shape. Try it.

Uhh, on this day I did have a crew. That helps. It is a struggle to get everything rigged singlehanding, so I have only done it twice that way.

Of course, I don't know what the race rules would say.

Jim Williams
Hey Jude C25fk 2958
SF Bay

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2004 : 17:08:05

So what's the difference between a cruising chute, and a spinnaker? Or is a cruising chute an asymetrical spinnaker?
I don't know what to do with either, I just go wing on wing, but then again I don't race. Yet.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2004 : 21:35:17

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Gloss
 So what's the difference between a cruising chute, and a spinnaker? Or is a cruising chute an asymetrical spinnaker?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes, a cruising chute and asymetrical chute are the same thing and they fill in the gap between a genoa and regular spinnaker.

Edited by - on

Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2004 : 10:23:57

Hi Jonathan,

You asked; "Does the cruising shute make much difference in speed or with a 150 genoa is it not that much?" The easy answer is yes. Especially in breezes less than 10 or 12 knots. My cruising chute (assymetrical spinnaker) is about 20% larger than the 150% genoa. Size makes a difference. The cruising chute is made of 3/4 oz spinnaker cloth (ripstop nylon) instead of 3.5 oz dacron. In light breezes, weight of fabric makes a difference. And, the shape of the assymetrical spinnaker is generally a better shape for beam to broad reaching. So, shape makes a difference.

Can you run dead downwind with the cruising chute? Yes. As Jim said, you can sure pole out the clew corner and sail wing 'n wing if your whisker pole is long enough.

One important thing to remember with the cruising chute is that when you change tacks, you should jibe the chute in front of the forestay - bringing the clew corner from one side of the boat to the other around the front of the boat. Not try to jibe it through the fore triangle between the forestay and the mast.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2004 : 12:40:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Bill Holcomb
 Hi Jonathan,

The cruising chute is made of 3/4 oz spinnaker cloth (ripstop nylon) instead of 3.5 oz dacron. In light breezes, weight of fabric makes a difference.One important thing to remember with the cruising chute is that when you change tacks, you should jibe the chute in front of the forestay - bringing the clew corner from one side of the boat to the other around the front of the boat. Not try to jibe it through the fore triangle between the forestay and the mast.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Necessitating really long and very light sheets.

Edited by - on

Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2004 : 01:10:25

There is probably some VERY good reason why Bill says to gybe the cruising chute out and around the forestay, but I have gybed mine for years through the foretriangle with no problems. I don't know why it works for me when other knowledgeable sailors say not to, but I fly mine single handed a lot with the chute scoop. When racing, I am beginning to leave the dowser at home.....

I plan on racing this way in the Nationals this summer. Maybe I will learn why I shouldn't!

Gary B.
Vice Commodore
s/v Encore! #685 SK/SR

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2004 : 01:41:29

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Gary B.
 There is probably some VERY good reason why Bill says to gybe the cruising chute out and around the forestay...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

On my boat, it would be very problematic to gybe the chute through the fore-triangle because my spinnaker halyard, which is out front of the masthead on a crane and above the forestay, would have to dip down and under both my forestay and furling swivel. If it were allowed to do this, it would foul the spinnaker halyard and render my block on the spinnaker crane useless.

In this illustration, you can somewhat see what would happen if I were to gybe through the forestay.

Additionally, the chute is quite large and made of relatively light matierial and trying to stuff it through the smaller fore-triangle may cause it to snag on all the little bits and pieces that exist in this area. By releasing the spinnaker sheet and allowing it to fly out in front of the bow during the gybe, one can avoid fouling at the masthead and through the fore-triangle.

Edited by - dlucier on 04/10/2004 01:56:41

Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2004 : 08:56:33

My feelings exactly Don.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2004 : 10:05:47

Don, I am in awe that you found a drawing with exactly the right perspective and all the detail to illustrate your explanation!

Edited by - on

nate
Navigator

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240 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2004 : 12:07:39

Here is a site I found on use of the cruising chute...hope it helps!
www.sailingsource.com/neilpryde/cs_trim

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2004 : 15:06:16

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 Don, I am in awe that you found a drawing with exactly the right perspective and all the detail to illustrate your explanation!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I simply have too much time on my hands!

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2004 : 14:43:30

For more information, here is the link to [url="http://www.ukhamble.com/encyclopedia/encyclopedia.html"]UK Sailmaker's Encyclopedia.[/url]

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