Spinnaker Jibe

rosellip · Post by **rosellip** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 2:02 pm

Hello,

Would you kindly share your experience on jibing the spinnaker. I would specifically like to know the position of the bow person and the sequence of the jibe. As the bowman I do the following but it's not quick or effective.

1) facing the bow with the mast to my back and pole to windward.
2) I get the jib sheet and put it on my shoulder.
3)Break the pole from the mast ring
4) drop the guy (old) and slide the jib sheet off the pole
5) cross the pole in front of me
6) put the jib sheet over the pole
7) clip in the new guy

clip the pole back to the mast and yell made.

Can you offer a easier method????? It never fails my lines always seem to get tangled and the pole is so hard to get on the mast ring. I waste a lot of time and as a result we lose a lot of boat speed.

Thank you,
Philomena

Tom Line · Post by **Tom Line** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 2:18 pm

Don't worry about the genoa sheets. The pole is light enough that you can shove it back between the mast and shrouds when you drop and just set the genoa sheet on top of it then.

It also helps if you jam your genoa forward somewhat after you drop it. That will pull your sheets forward and they will naturally clear the pole when you shove it back.

Steve Smith · Post by **Steve Smith** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 3:13 pm

You've got to work with the trimmers, and Helm. The helm drives down the trimmers square the pole and rotate the spin. Ease the topping and foreguy a little. Trip the pole, don't worry about the jib sheets.

If you're having trouble making the mast end one of two thing is happening. The topper and forguy aren't eased to give you working room, or the trimmers are trimming before you yell made. You've got to call for an ease and then make the pole.

The biggest thing is to have the helm do a nice easy turn, I'll guarantee the helm can turn the boat faster than you can jibe the pole.

Steve Smith
Gargle Blaster
#352

Post by **Tim Bosma** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 9:05 am

I stand next to the mast, facing forward, opposite of the pole. Never touch the jib sheets. Grab the spinny sheet. Release the pole from the mast and make the new guy. Release the new sheet. Make the pole on the mast. Yell 'MADE'. This way I open the jaws only once on each end. It is a delicate dance with the trimmer and helm.
If it is the last run before the headsail comes up, then I make sure we are clear to raise and trim on the expected side. After the spinny comes down, I make sure we are clear to tack. Yell, 'CLEAR TO TACK' when it is so.

DaveR · Post by **DaveR** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 11:15 am

Couple questions-
Do most boats use the spin pole end jaws- facing up - or down ?
Do most boats have the spin halyard exiting the mast out of the starboard sheeve at the mast head? Can I switch the jib and spin halyards and still be class legal ? (The problem is the spin halyard wrapping around the forestay)
Thanks

Post by **Tim Bosma** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 12:48 pm

Dave,
I can't speak for most boats, but for us. The jaws are up. The spin halyard (red) is on the port sheave exiting the mast above, and on the stbd mast slot and cabin top below. The halyard is over the forestay on a port pole, but we don't have any wrapping problems. I am not authorized to comment baout the rules q.
Thanks,

Post by **Tim Bosma** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 12:52 pm

Oh, one more thing, we have small (1" dia) stopper balls on each halyard (red and green) just above the shackle. This gives is a definite stop point when raising the spinny, and the line exists 1" out from the sheave since the ball is against the sheave. Chafe at the shackle end of the halyard is minimal to nil.

Mark Gutteridge · Post by **Mark Gutteridge** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 6:12 am

On Hunting Party we have the halyards crossed in the mast.This prevents the halyard from wrapping around the forestay and also alows the bowman to launch the kite from the windward side of the boat on a normal rounding.That;s assuming that anything is normal.
See you at the CCR.
Chimo;
Guts.

dopierce · Post by **dopierce** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 9:46 pm

On Akela, we have been trying an idea from a local j24. We removed the downhaul and moved the twings forwardof the stays. The windward twing is pulled down to the lifeline and the guy acts as the downhaul.
We also removed the downhaul bridal (less complexity)
and use a fixed topping lift:
jut pick up the pole by the bridal (jaws up), clip into the topping lift, push it forward and clip the pole to the mast ring. So easy, even the skipper can do it!

So far we like it:
Easier to jibe as there is slack in the topping lift
downhaul dosen't get wrapped up in the genoa sheets
quicker and simpler to get the pole up

It dosen't hold the pole as firmly but has solved some other problems

Dave

David E · Post by **David E** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 7:37 am

The Annapolis Book of Seamanship has a nice little write up on it too. They cover both large and small boats in that section.