[C38] Flying a spinnaker

[S Orton]

Chuck,  I'm two weeks behind in my emails and this is one of my favorite subjects, so I'll reply anyway.  In 20 - 25 kts of pressure you must have very active crew members on the spinnaker sheet- one to adjust and one to crank.  The driver and the spin sheet tailer must be in close commutation.  The driver can feel when the rudder starts to stall and then the spin sheet must be rapidly eased and just as fast be cranked back in as helm is responds.  On the Newport to Ensenada race in 2002, in pressure close to 25 kts, maintaining 10-12 kts for about 6 hrs, the port spin winch turned pink from the red flake coming off the spin sheet.  We did this routine up and over each swell during that run- roaring down the back side of a swell, punching into the next swell, climbing the front side, easing the sheet, hauling in the sheet at the top as the helm is slightly heated up and accelerating  back down the back side, etc.  When you think about it, when the rudder stalls, you are applying the brakes, it is much better to ease the sheet and maintain control and power.  By the way, I only use a 3/4 oz spinnaker as over 25 kts, generally the chute is coming down- I'm in chicken mode and surviving.
Cheers, Steve O


Date: Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:02:51 -0400
From: charles at finn.ws
To: listserve at catalina38.org
Subject: Re: [C38] Flying a spinnaker


Wow! 
Steve and Larry, what do you do about the weather helm! I keep a 1.5 aboard for my single handed efforts (I use and ATN spinnaker sock and ATN sleeve).  While I am crazy enough to fly it by myself in 3-15 knot winds, I have found that it gets way too complicated after that as my autopilot cannot keep up.   But, when I have had a crew with at least one good helmsman, I have flown it in up to 25 knots with gusts.  At 25 knots DDW, the weather helm is so tremendous that I begin to worry for the crew and boat, the dreaded "death roll" and broaching.  Could it be that I am no longer using the pole as I almost never have enough skilled crew?
When we used to fly these in high winds in the old days, we would balance the spinnaker with a blooper... but that is a real circus act forward!

Chuck Finn
Mighty Quinn #114
Great Lakes




On 10/15/2010 9:58 AM, Larry Malmberg Live wrote: 
Aw shucks Steve, we have been there and done that, in fact it's part of our
practice sailing, we have it "down" pretty good too.  LOL
 



 
Best regards,

Larry Malmberg
Team Hassle



  _____  

From: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org
[mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] On Behalf Of Steve Smolinske
Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2010 7:23 PM
To: Catalina 38 Listserve
Subject: Re: [C38] Flying a spinnaker


There might be some benefit while surfing down waves to slow the boat down
so you dont dive the bow into the next wave.   Larry would you like to try
this out during Transpac and author an article for Mainsheet?
 
Steve
#312 Peregrine
Seattle
 

  _____  

From: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org on behalf of D McC
Sent: Thu 10/14/2010 6:31 PM
To: Catalina 38 Listserve
Subject: Re: [C38] Flying a spinnaker



We usually just put it into reverse when coming into the slip too fast.

 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>


Common Sense is a rare gift from the Gods.
Most people have only technical training!


<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>


The gods do not deduct from man's allotted span those hours spent in
sailing.



----- Original Message ----
From: Patrick Harpole <1derful at comcast.net>
To: Catalina 38 Listserve <Listserve at catalina38.org>
Sent: Wed, October 13, 2010 10:51:00 PM
Subject: [C38] Flying a spinnaker

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