[rplowden]

I just bought a Cal 21 and can't figure out the spinnaker rigging. The person I bought it from never flew the spinnaker, but the guy before him did. I have two symmetrical spinnakers, pole, sheets, etc.

I just can't figure out how the halyard and topping lift were ran. I'm assuming I have the original mast (99.9999% sure). The main halyard runs externally over the top of the mast. And the headsail halyard runs externally up the front of the mast to a point about 4 feet from the top of the mast, which is the same point where the forestay attaches to the mast. At this location there is a lug where a block could be placed, but on every other boat I've noticed the spinnaker is rigged at the very top of the mast. There's just no way that I can see of running a spinnaker from the top.

If you run a spinnaker, how do you have it rigged? Can it be run from a block about 4 feet from the top?

I have figured out how to rig a topping lift for the pole, I just need to figure out a halyard. Any insight/ideas would be greatly appreciated. I'm repainting the deck and would like to have all my rigging figured out beforehand so that I can do it all at once. Thanks.

 

[Faster]

You have a 'fractional' rig... the forestay height being only part of the mast height. We have as well, and from my avatar (picture on the header of this post) you can see that the kite is run from the forestay height. With the exception of recent sport boat designs, most fractional rigs are intended to fly spinnakers that fit the foretriangle.

There should be a block (or a tang for one) just above the forestay connection. Your spinnaker halyard must be above the forestay to avoid chafe and interference during hoists and jibes. It's a good plan to run the halyard aft so that you can hoist from the cockpit. For this boat you may want to leave it external, but running halyards down the inside of the mast has advantages too.

 

[rplowden]

Alrighty, that explains a lot. Especially the picture. I measured the mast and one of the spinnakers. The mast is about 28' and the spinnaker is 24' down the middle. I think it should work. Thanks for the info.

 

[Chuck Flett]

Does anyone know where the early Cal 21's serial number is located. I looked on the starboard transom but I suppose it could be covered up in paint. I think more likely, my boat is old enough to have preceded the transom number location. Thanks