running spinnaker when solo?

[CharlieCobra]

Ah no. I might be a bit right of center but I'm not suicidal. I discovered what happens when it self deploys in 30+, not pretty.

[blt2ski]

When Charlie does decide to do this in 50 knot winds, can he for warn us so some can sail north, me, others south, ie faster to enjoy the show!

Here are some pics from race last weekend i am thinking the you will get to main web site, hit recent pics, then duwamish head! Rumour has it, one dismasting, number of blow downs, including two in photos, lots of torn spinnakers etc! And this is with ful race crews!

marty

[haffiman37]

I did run my symetrical 'solo' quite some times, even at night when the wife was sleeping! However a good autopilot with wind-vane possibility is needed.
Tried to keep the angle around 140 - 160 relative. Gybing on Haffiman is no fun with the spinnaker due to the baby stay that makes handling of the pole a bit tricky. Normally I pulled down the sock when gybing. At night I kept the 'engine' light on in the mast to be able to monitor what was going on. I guess sometimes people ahead of me must have wondered what was comming. Had a few tens moments from Bali and up, when all of the sudden some hundred fishing boats showed their lights just in my way. Those mile-long nets are not what You want to get tangled into with a spinnaker.