Quote:
Originally Posted by Tartan34C
I do set and recover a spinnaker by myself. As is the case with most jobs on a solo boat the trick is to organize the work so that you don’t need to be in two places at the same time. Everything needs to be set out so the work is sequential. I set up the gear so that I can make one trip forward to rig the pole and guy and as I return to the helm I set the spinnaker while passing the mast and trim the guy while going down the windward side and trim the sheet from the helm when I get there. So the job works out to be,
Place spinnaker in the cockpit on leeward side
Attach sheet and guy which were run beforehand
Set helm to keep the boat on course for the 4 minuets it will take.
Go forward rig pole and guy
Go aft grab sail and take to base of mast, rig halyard and host sail
Trim guy while returning to helm
Trim sheet from helm
Relax and enjoy the ride
The length of the sheet was roughly preset and the guy is loose until the sail is up and then trimmed a second or two after getting the sail up.
All the best,
Robert Gainer |
Good post, Tartan! I'll print it and take it with me this weekend and I'll practice until I memorize it spontaneouly. (It is so well organised that I even though that you actually set the helm on course to dance 4 minuets in the process ... then realised it was just a typo
)
I have only set the
spinnaker (symetric) once, last week, but I intend to use it as much as I can single handed. Blt2ski's suggestion of a silghtly smaller one is a good idea, but my 31 footer already came with a proportional symetric sail. And many of you in this thread mention the risks, I guess caused by a sudden gust of wind. If this is the case, wouldn't be enough with releasing the sheet? Even, let it go altogether, if necessary?