Interested in a boat for 2018 TransPac

[sleddog]

Can some share their experiences, techniques and cautions for handling spinnakers when the wind comes up? Who recommends socks? Do you do inside or outside jibes and when, why? Or do you douse, jibe the main and then reset the kite? Do you run halyard and tack back to the cockpit? Do you always letterbox the douse? Have you tried runing the control lines from a sock back to the cockpit...Does this work?

Good questions. I've tried running the contol lines from a sock back to the cockpit. Singlehanded, it's a much better deal than going on the foredeck. Nevertheless, on boats smaller than 35 feet, I consider a sock as adding complexity and danger of possible entanglement up the rig..the risk is not worth the perceived advantage.

The letterbox douse only works with a loose footed main. But is by far the best method of dropping: put the autopilot at a 150 degree AWA, release the guy, and pull in the sheet with the spinny hidden behind the main (and jib if possible.) Make sure the sheet is secured in case it gets out of hand. Drop spinny down the main companion way hatch using both hands, with 1-2 turns of friction remaining on the halyard winch. Remember to check the galley stove is turned off before hand.

A variation of the letterbox drop is to retrieve the spinny under the boom. This works just as well, but requires attention to the boom vang area on the boom, making sure there is nothing sharp to snag the spinnaker: no cotters, rivets, sharp edges. The "V" between the boom and the boom vang can't be smooth enough, and requires pre-race attention with a file, sandpaper, silicon, and tape.

Jibing a spinny depends on Auto-Pilot reliability, practice, and whether the spinny is symmetrical or asso. Also whether day or night, and urgency. If symmetrical spinny, then a trip to the foredeck is required. In this case, I've found the max TWS for safe jibing is about 16 knots. The last thing you want is for the boat/sail to get out of control, with no one in the cockpit.


WILDFLOWER SHTP 1978

With an asymmetrical, usually an inside jibe is best in windspeeds below 16 knots. However, if the boat is masthead rigged, then pre-easing the halyard a foot or three assists in clearing the sail around the headstay. The problem with an outside jibe in any wind is the very real possibility of running over the spinnaker sheet.

If you've been running DDW, or nearly so, on starboard jibe, and a squall lifts you with a 10 knot increase in wind so you are now running at a high rate of speed 70-90 degrees off course, forget jibeing the spinnaker and go for immediate douse. Then jibe the main, and sail course in a relaxed and safe manner while rebagging the spinny, and figuring out if you are going to rehoist on the new jibe, pole out the jib, or continue sailing under main alone until the squall passes, and the wind shifts back.