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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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single handing a spinnaker

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/20/2004 : 14:32:23

Now that fall sailing season is here, I'm tired of losing to the TR wings on the downwind runs. So I want to start flying my spinnaker. I have all the rigging in place, the pole, and the sail is in great shape - its 0.75 oz.

Could someone give me a step by step guide to deploying the chute singlehanded? I'll probably start working with it in Sail Bay after work. Sail Bay is inside Mission Bay and quite sheltered from waves - although it has great wind usually. Sail Bay is about 7 feet deep.

I'm quite used to poling out my genny singlehanded. It is a handful, but I've developed a method using autopilot of course. I also use a preventer on the main.

A typical after work sail this time of year I'll be the only boat out. So this challenge will give me something to do with no traffic or obstacles to worry about. Typically we have really light air at this hour (5 knots).

Indiscipline 1978 FK SR #398

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2004 : 14:59:03

Keep us other non spinnaker enabled people up to date with your progress. This is something I'd like to try. I just got a GPS to keep track of speed and direction, hope this helps too.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2004 : 17:43:00

Is this a traditonal downwind chute? I have scant experience with one but fly my asymetric cruising chute alone often.

Al
GALLIVANT #5801

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2004 : 17:53:08

Yes, fully symmetrical poled out downwind chute. I've sailed an asym on another boat. Its a handful to gybe single handed!

Edited by - on

Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2004 : 11:32:44

Hi Jim,

The biggest problem you'll probably deal with is jibing the spinnaker single handed. Shifting the pole and trimming while the boat is turning is tough by yourself. Jibing will take practice - ~5 - 6 knots of breeze is good practice wind.

Deploying the chute and retrieving it is quite a bit easier. The trick to deploying the spinnaker is to have everything ready to go before you hoist.....AND you have all the control lines lead aft to the cockpit. Here's the hoist: 1) have all the lines ready for both the pole and the hoisting the sail. 2) raise the pole to "proper" height. 3) steer the boat to a broad reach or halfway between there and a run. 4) hoist the sail. 5) trim the guy so that the sails corner is near the pole end. 6) trim the sheet. Dousing the chute is pretty easy single handed. 1) steer a broad reach course. 2) let the pole go all the way forward. 3) release the guy completely so that the line will run all the way out of the snatch block. 4) release the halyard. 5) grab the sheet between the snatch block and the sail and pull sheet, sail, and guy into the cabin. 6) unhook the halyard and snap it onto the lifeline or mast, lower the pole.

Not too tough. But, consider practicing in lighter breezes and don't hoist the mainsail while practicing.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2004 : 15:38:21

Hooking the turtle in the companionway helps. Launch and retrieve from the companionway. Bill implied but was not specific that the guy needs to be pre-led throught the pole jaw. I always had my spinnaker lines double knotted so the jaw would hook between knots,(this is a dangerous thing to do because it makes it impossible to let the guy go to free the chute in an emergency) the sheet and guy could control the pole possition that way, you are not going to be able to do that. If the pole down haul deck fitting is a little forward (it probably is) it can act to swing the pole forward, the guy will pull it back. The chute is the last nail in the "powerboat past" coffin.

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2004 : 15:22:41

Is this an asym or a tri-radial symetrical?

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2004 : 15:46:50

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JimB517
 Yes, fully symmetrical poled out downwind chute. I've sailed an asym on another boat. Its a handful to gybe single handed!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2004 : 11:17:10

Okay - here is how I would do it (if I actually had the testicular fortitude)

1. put on life jacket
2. Before leaving the dock, have your pole mounted on the mast at deck level. Put the jib sheets over the pole and in front of the pole lift. This will allow you to tack the jib over the pole.
3. Before you leave also rig your spin sheets with the guy side through the pole, make sure they will be outside of the pulpit when the pole goes up.
4. Go sailing
5. Use a Turtle out of the cabin as described above. If you’ve never seen this, take a look at the configuration on j-24’s and j22’s. They have the ideal set up for this type of thing.
6. As you approach your mythical layline while practicing – Raise the pole on the mast (if you have this on a line lead back to the cockpit, all the better) otherwise go forward to the mast.
7. Next raise the outboard end using the topping lift. If you have a downhaul on the pole, loosen it to raise, then adjust. The pole should be parallel to the deck.
8. Release the tweaker line on the non pole side, harden up the tweaker on the pole side.
9. Bring the pole to about 90 degrees to where the wind will be after you round the “mythical mark” and cleat this line. Do this by pulling on the guy. One of the two clews should come out of the bag at this time and the sail should begin to wrap around the front of your jib.
10. Round the mark, be sure to ease your jib sheet to put yourself on a nice easy reach.
11. Hoist the spinnaker.
12. Once the sail is up, drop the jib. – hopefully it falls right to the deck

Good luck

Also - be sure to carry a knife within reach for emergencies.

Edited by - Champipple on 09/23/2004 11:18:35

jwilliams
Captain

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USA
357 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2004 : 11:44:47

Could someone please describe a "turtle"?

Jim Williams
Hey Jude C25fk 2958
SF BAY

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2004 : 12:14:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jwilliams
 Could someone please describe a "turtle"?

Jim Williams
Hey Jude C25fk 2958
SF BAY
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

A turtle is a hard shelled reptile...oops, wrong one. Actually a turtle is a sail bag for a spinnaker that is made so the sail can be launched directly from the bag. My turtle(sail bag) is shaped like a cylinder with a 2' diameter steel ring sewn into the bag's opening to keep it open. It also has a clip to secure it to the lifelines and a webbed bottom for water to escape.

Edited by - dlucier on 09/23/2004 12:19:27

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2004 : 11:40:25

Yeah, I have a turtle. I'll start practicing next week. Nothing else to do in the light evening air we've been having.

Thank you

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