[express]

I use the Spinnaker pole to get the tack of the sail forward a little bit. You can tack to the bow if you have a fitting to attach a block to.My boat is set up for spinnakers so I have all the hardware to use. The Guys from each side of the boat are run forward thur the pole end and attacted to sail tack.
This set up lets me control the fore and aft movement of the pole. The downhaul (forguy)is used to control the height of the pole. I use the pole set up for racing.For cruising I put the sail in a sock and run a tack line to bow thru Snache block to the tack of the sail. It is a lot easyer to set up.
Billn S