SEAMANSHIP SPINNAKER PART 1
Rigging the spinnaker
Attach the spinnaker bag to the leeward rail and/or deck, halfway between the shrouds and the forestay.
1
(or ‘sheets’) for the spinnaker, each approximately one and a half times the length of the boat. To differentiate between the two, the windward sheet is called the ‘guy’.
2
the guy from a cockpit winch, aft through a turning block on the quarter, then outboard of stanchions and shrouds to the bow. Take the tail around the forestay to the spinnaker bag on the leeward side and tie it to the spinnaker clew nearest the bow.
3
the sheet from a cockpit winch, aft though a turning block on
4 On the leeward side, run On the windward side, run
the quarter, then under the mainsheet and boom, outboard of stanchions, jib-sheets and shrouds, to the aftermost spinnaker clew.
the one that descends from a block or sheave on the mast above the forestay. Lead the halyard clear of the forestay and outside the jib to leeward and attach it to the head of the
5 WEIGHT AND WIND
Check the bag to see if the weight of the spinnaker cloth is stencilled on the outside. This determines how much breeze you should fly the kite in. As a rough guide: half- ounce cloth is designed for very light airs, ¾-ounce for moderate airs and 1½-ounce for heavier airs. If the bag offers no clues and the kite feels like tissue-paper, save it for very light airs. Your first hoist will probably benefit from few distractions, or critical observers. Ideal conditions are:
• Light breeze (approximately 8-10 knots) with clean, steady airflow
• Flattish water without swell • Minimal traffic
62
• Plenty of hazard-free space, so you can get the kite up and set before any course-change or navigation is required.
CLASSIC BOAT JULY 2011
THE BASICS OF RIGGING A POLE You need the following, all of which can be jury-rigged. Uphaul: This normally runs from the outboard end or middle of the pole to a turning block about two-thirds of the way up the mast. If a spinnaker pole came with
Your spinnaker halyard is You need two control lines
spinnaker. Look up the mast to double-check that the halyard is clear of the forestay: wire chews through a rope under tension in no time!
side (see below for a guide to the basics of rigging the pole). Attach the inboard end of the pole to the mast fitting, with the
6
Outboard end of the pole, with uphaul and downhaul attached. Note the spinnaker guy (to the left) clipped into the beak
Rig the pole on the windward
beak openings facing upward. Clip the guy into the beak at the outboard end. Using the uphaul, hoist the pole to horizontal at about shoulder-height. If using a brace, make the tail off in the cockpit to keep the pole clear of your forestay.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100