running spinnaker when solo?

[Rockter]

Crusing chute, just maybe, but on a 36 ft cutter with a spinnaker, alone???... it's not for me.

Even with two of us, I would not like it much... the spinnaker is vast, and forgives next to nothing.

[BarryL]

Hello,

My Newport 28 came with both a regular (symmetric) and asymmetric (with dousing sock) spinnakers. After practicing for some time with 2-3 people, I was able to fly the assym solo.

I would do it if the wind was light and I needed to go downwind (or broad reach).

For me, the keys were a good reliable autopilot, light wind (up to 10 kts), and the sock. With those things, it was very easy to set, fly, and douse the chute.

Personally, flying the spinnaker is one of the great fun things of sailing. It makes being out in light wind fun instead or boring. It allows you to sail in conditions that would otherwise require the motor.

My O'day didn't come with a spinnaker. When my budget allows, I will get one.

Barry

[blt2ski]

I have not as of yet tried running with my AS as of yet, spouse does not even want me out by myself sailing with main and jib, much less the Chute up. BUT, that is neither here nor there.

What I did when I bought my AS ie asymmetric spinnaker. I choose to go with one about 85% of max size. For more than one reason, biggest, I ha never flown a chute before. Next, while interested in ncreasing downwind performance, I was not worried about the last nth of a knot in speed. So I gain about 1-1.5 knots vs 1.5-2 knots. The sail downwind is much more pleasurable than with a main and genoa alone!

Size wise, with my 30'r, max Symmetric is around 700-720, AS 680 or so, my sail is 590'ish. In the mean time, since I am racing a bit more than I thought I would, one of my next sails after a new main and 155, is a 700# symmetric for these days, the AS makes a good high wind, ie up to 20-25knots with crew, up to 12-15 knots just spouse and I sailing downwind sail. the bigger symmetric will get me to about 15-20 with crew on board.

Not that my way will work for everyone, but for some, going with a smaller chute will lower some of the broaching issues with a slightly larger sail, sailing alone or with smaller crew size. I would think if I was in Alex's shoes for example, with family onboard, a 1200# chute vs the 1500#'r, would make life fun downwind, but still manageable to a degree with just him and Fred running the boat.

Take these comments for what they are worth on your puter screen! Not much, then again................

marty

[davidcctx]

have enough kite problems with a crew...

[max-on]

Here you go!!!

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1k...douguet-a-bloc

[paulk]

Don't fall off.

[wumhenry]

How do you rig an asymm? Do you tie the tack to the bow pulpit rail?

The PO included one in the deal when he sold me the boat I have now, in July '06. I haven't flown it yet, 'cause the PO said it's not something he'd do without the help of an "energetic" deckhand -- a qualification that my wife, God love her, doesn't meet.

[sailingdog]

You can attach the tack around the furled headsail, using something like the ATN Tacker. I fly an Asym on my boat, and the tack is attached to a bail on the bowsprit.

[TwentySeven]

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?

[maxingout]

I fly a double headsail rig when sailing downwind on my catamaran. It gives me nearly the same sail area forward as a spinnaker, but with a lot less worries. One genoa to port and another genoa to starboard gets the job done nicely. I actually use two spinnaker poles for the double headsail rig. If the wind comes up, I roll in one of the headsails.

The last time I flew my spinnaker solo, I ran over it. So now it's a double headsail rig for me. I go just as fast without any worries.