Spinnaker Launching

[Wind's Choice]

My dad has recently purchased #107. After sailing it the last few months, we have noticed that our spinnaker sets always seem to be terrible. I sailed 7.9s when I was in Florida a few times and never seemed to remember the problem. We launched the chute out of the companionway from a bag that was hanging there as I have on many other boats. We do not have the bag yet for our boat, but I dont see how that would help us that much. We seem to keep getting hung up in between the main and the spreader/side stay. Does anyone launch from the deck out of a bag? Please let me know what everyone is using or ways to remedy our issue.

Thanks,
Wynne

Wind's Choice - #107

[LarryE-old]

Don't let the headsail out all the way and quickly pull the main in until the kite is up. works for us.

Who did you sail with in Florida?

Works better when you have the bag and have someone feed it out, quickly.

[Wind's Choice]

Larry,

Not sure if you remember me, but I was a regular on Mouse with Jim Henry, but sailed on Sea Turtle 2 in the Fall and Spring Regatta when I was there. Really took a liking to the 7.9 then and finally found 107 and my dad scooped it up. I was excited when I found out it was the old Pirate and called John Martin immediately to have a second opinion. It's been great so far!

Wynne Taylor

[dave]

You're waiting too long to raise the halyard. All explained here with a great video of J-24s. The boat doesn't matter, watch what they're doing. While there, also check out the tacking/windward sheeting video.................... it doesn't get any better!


http://www.gmsc.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=74

[Tom Elsen]

Hey Wynne
If you're getting hung up between the main and the spreader, it sounds like you've got a halyard problem.
The (relatively) taught spin halyard is trapped as the main gets eased prior to the hoist.
Not uncommon. And it can cause a bunch of things to go wrong as the kite twists.
Two things can help.
1) Have your bag man 'whip' the spin halyard out and forward, immediately prior to hoist. Then it's not trapped aft of the spreader as the main gets eased.
2) If you're hoisting from the mast, have the bow ease out a couple of feet of halyard just prior to launch. This can/should allow it to blow out from behind the spreader.
Experiment to see which works best with your crew or your launch timing.

[dave]

None of these things happen if you set the chute the way shown in the video that I posted...................... the main isn't out yet and even the Genoa has barely been eased because the chute is coming out of the hatch about the time the bow is passing the mark. You DO need to come into the mark with a little room between it and the boat, but it's not much and looses nothing in the long run. Waiting any longer just makes small things snowball to no good end.

[knotMoving]

Hi there,
I am new to the S2 7.9 scene - the boat I crew on is not yet even in the water. I'm foredeck and trying to work out spinnaker launching. I looked for a FAQ but best I've come up with is this thread.
Dave - I could not find the video you linked to. Guess it expired in the past year. If you have access would you mind reposting or if anyone else would post a link to best approaches.
My experience years ago was with a Lindenberg 28. We used forward hatch launches and sets on that boat - think of an overgrown Wavelength 24.

Appreciate any links and good advice y'all have!
thanks
Mike

[dave]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U6jFshVm1M

[Jeffrey]

Here's another link to a video I took in Nashville...the sound is too loud, but you can see the foredeck work.

http://youtu.be/lAkWKreYaBo