Matt, Tom,
Is there any chance that a snuffer can or will be available for the ARC 21?
Eric Arbogast
2101
Mid Pole Snuffer
-
Eric2101
- Professional
- Posts: 205
- Joined: August 16th, 2004, 5:42 am
- Boat Make/Model: Supercat 15
- Location: Davie, FL.
Mid Pole Snuffer
Eric Arbogast
Supercat 15
Supercat 15
-
Matt Haberman
- Administrator
- Posts: 602
- Joined: November 10th, 2003, 8:22 pm
- Location: Minnesota
- Contact:
Eric,
I don't expect that we will be doing a snuffer for the 21 or 22. Because of the size of the spinnaker on the 21 & 22 it really makes it difficult to use a snuffer. The snuffer would end up quite large and produce a lot of extra windage and possible water drag in rough conditions. Additionally we do sail repair in house and the most common spinnaker damage is burns from the snuffer line, hoop, etc., not worth it in our opinion.
Oh and one last thing, the last time I checked I can usually get the spinnaker down or up for that matter in a fraction of the time that it takes with a snuffer. It just takes practice
I don't expect that we will be doing a snuffer for the 21 or 22. Because of the size of the spinnaker on the 21 & 22 it really makes it difficult to use a snuffer. The snuffer would end up quite large and produce a lot of extra windage and possible water drag in rough conditions. Additionally we do sail repair in house and the most common spinnaker damage is burns from the snuffer line, hoop, etc., not worth it in our opinion.
Oh and one last thing, the last time I checked I can usually get the spinnaker down or up for that matter in a fraction of the time that it takes with a snuffer. It just takes practice
-
Eric2101
- Professional
- Posts: 205
- Joined: August 16th, 2004, 5:42 am
- Boat Make/Model: Supercat 15
- Location: Davie, FL.
spin set and retrieval
How about describing your sequence, maybe I'm doing it the hardway.....
Setting is easy for me, retreival is where I need to improve speed.
Setting is easy for me, retreival is where I need to improve speed.
Eric Arbogast
Supercat 15
Supercat 15
-
Matt Haberman
- Administrator
- Posts: 602
- Joined: November 10th, 2003, 8:22 pm
- Location: Minnesota
- Contact:
Eric,
Here is a copy of something I posted a while back:
I typically handle everything relating to the spinnaker hoisting and takedown leaving the skipper with the sole responsibility of steering. In the past we have tried having the skipper hoist the sail and control/feed the halyard during the takedown, but I have found that I have more control if I do it all myself.
The problem you run into when the skipper hoists the sail is two fold:
#1 they have to let go of the tiller to hoist hand over hand, this allows the boat to round up and by the time the head of the sail is at the top, the boat is usually headed too high to easily pull the tack out to the end of the pole. #2 is that if the spinnaker gets snagged, the skipper usually cannot see this and just keeps trying to pull. If the crew is hoisting, they can see the problem sooner and remedy it before things get really tangled.
Now mind you that we don’t head straight down wind during the hoist, If you head too deep the head of the sail will stay too close to the mast and is more prone to snagging on the sidestays and trapeze wires. As soon as the head is all the way up and cleated off the skipper can head the boat down a little bit to ease the loads while pulling the tack to the end of the pole. Once the tack is at the end of the pole he can start heading back up to trim and get the spinnaker to fill.
During the takedown I personally like pulling the tack and clew back onto the boat and then "cutting" the halyard loose and pretty much letting the sail free fall as I pull it back on the boat. You can have the skipper feed the line out, but I always felt like I was pulling it faster then he could feed it too me which was frustrating. I suppose one could say that having the skipper control the halyard during takedown is a "Take it or leave it" type routine. In lieu of having the skipper feed the spinnaker halyard during the takedown, you could drop the tail of the halyard through the middle of the tramp and let it trail in the water. With a stopper ball on the end of the halyard this will cause a slight drag on the line and help to slowdown the dropping of the sail, it also helps to keep the tangles out of the line.
Here is our procedure for hoisting the spinnaker:
1) Pull the forward trapeze line back and hook it on the sidestay lever. (this will keep it out of your way)
2) Unzip inboard edge of bag and remove the spinnaker, pile it up in the corner of the tramp by the main beam.
3) Hoist head about 4 feet off deck and hold with left hand while holding halyard with right hand.
4) “Toss” head of sail out side of boat and start pulling the halyard “hand over hand”
5) Once halyard is at top make sure it is secure and then start pulling the tack line “hand over hand”
6) Once tack is at the end of the pole make sure it is secure and then sheet in!
Here is our procedure for the takedown:
1) Pull the forward trapeze line back and hook it on the sidestay lever.
2) Drop on the same side as you hoisted it on.
3) Grab the clew and pull it on the boat.
4) Uncleat the tack line and pull the sail in so you have both the tack and clew in your hands.
5) Cut the halyard loose and pull the entire sail down onto the tramp.
6) Stuff it in the bag and zip it up!
You can also drop the sail on the opposite tack from what you hoisted it on. This can get a little tricky, but isn’t too bad with a little practice.
1) Bring boat to the verge of a jibe.
2) Pull clew to windward side and get it in your hand.
3) Cut the tack line loose and pull the sail in so you have both tack and clew in your hands.
4) Round back to windward slowly (remember you didn’t jibe)
5) Cut the spinnaker halyard loose, once the head is below the spreaders the skipper can harden up and start heading up wind.
6) Pull the sail back on the tramp and get it in the bag.
If the skipper pays attention to what is going on outside the boat (other boats, marks, etc.) and maintains a decent downwind heading during the hoist and takedown it makes the job of the crew much easier. By knowing what's going on around the boat they can avoid sudden course changes or at least give the crew enough time to prepare for the change. Keeping a good downwind heading is important, but even more important is paying attention to where in the hoisting / takedown procedure the crew is and adjusting the course heading as necessary to make the job easier.
You will have to find out what works best for you, for instance you might find that the skipper needs to control the spinnaker halyard during the takedown because your crew isn't strong enough to pull the sail back on the boat with one arm while cutting the halyard loose with the other.
My best suggestion is to get on the water and practice, practice, practice. Consider going out and doing some sort of drill like Hoist - Jibe - Jibe - Takedown, then head back upwind and repeat. You need to practice until everything is second nature so if you do run into a problem, like a tight mark rounding with other boats, your able to keep your head outside the boat while your crew is taking the spinnaker down on "autopilot". Get out and practice and make sure you practice a few hoists, jibes and takedowns before the start of every race to make sure everything is untangled since the last time you sailed and so the routine is fresh in your mind.
Here is a copy of something I posted a while back:
I typically handle everything relating to the spinnaker hoisting and takedown leaving the skipper with the sole responsibility of steering. In the past we have tried having the skipper hoist the sail and control/feed the halyard during the takedown, but I have found that I have more control if I do it all myself.
The problem you run into when the skipper hoists the sail is two fold:
#1 they have to let go of the tiller to hoist hand over hand, this allows the boat to round up and by the time the head of the sail is at the top, the boat is usually headed too high to easily pull the tack out to the end of the pole. #2 is that if the spinnaker gets snagged, the skipper usually cannot see this and just keeps trying to pull. If the crew is hoisting, they can see the problem sooner and remedy it before things get really tangled.
Now mind you that we don’t head straight down wind during the hoist, If you head too deep the head of the sail will stay too close to the mast and is more prone to snagging on the sidestays and trapeze wires. As soon as the head is all the way up and cleated off the skipper can head the boat down a little bit to ease the loads while pulling the tack to the end of the pole. Once the tack is at the end of the pole he can start heading back up to trim and get the spinnaker to fill.
During the takedown I personally like pulling the tack and clew back onto the boat and then "cutting" the halyard loose and pretty much letting the sail free fall as I pull it back on the boat. You can have the skipper feed the line out, but I always felt like I was pulling it faster then he could feed it too me which was frustrating. I suppose one could say that having the skipper control the halyard during takedown is a "Take it or leave it" type routine. In lieu of having the skipper feed the spinnaker halyard during the takedown, you could drop the tail of the halyard through the middle of the tramp and let it trail in the water. With a stopper ball on the end of the halyard this will cause a slight drag on the line and help to slowdown the dropping of the sail, it also helps to keep the tangles out of the line.
Here is our procedure for hoisting the spinnaker:
1) Pull the forward trapeze line back and hook it on the sidestay lever. (this will keep it out of your way)
2) Unzip inboard edge of bag and remove the spinnaker, pile it up in the corner of the tramp by the main beam.
3) Hoist head about 4 feet off deck and hold with left hand while holding halyard with right hand.
4) “Toss” head of sail out side of boat and start pulling the halyard “hand over hand”
5) Once halyard is at top make sure it is secure and then start pulling the tack line “hand over hand”
6) Once tack is at the end of the pole make sure it is secure and then sheet in!
Here is our procedure for the takedown:
1) Pull the forward trapeze line back and hook it on the sidestay lever.
2) Drop on the same side as you hoisted it on.
3) Grab the clew and pull it on the boat.
4) Uncleat the tack line and pull the sail in so you have both the tack and clew in your hands.
5) Cut the halyard loose and pull the entire sail down onto the tramp.
6) Stuff it in the bag and zip it up!
You can also drop the sail on the opposite tack from what you hoisted it on. This can get a little tricky, but isn’t too bad with a little practice.
1) Bring boat to the verge of a jibe.
2) Pull clew to windward side and get it in your hand.
3) Cut the tack line loose and pull the sail in so you have both tack and clew in your hands.
4) Round back to windward slowly (remember you didn’t jibe)
5) Cut the spinnaker halyard loose, once the head is below the spreaders the skipper can harden up and start heading up wind.
6) Pull the sail back on the tramp and get it in the bag.
If the skipper pays attention to what is going on outside the boat (other boats, marks, etc.) and maintains a decent downwind heading during the hoist and takedown it makes the job of the crew much easier. By knowing what's going on around the boat they can avoid sudden course changes or at least give the crew enough time to prepare for the change. Keeping a good downwind heading is important, but even more important is paying attention to where in the hoisting / takedown procedure the crew is and adjusting the course heading as necessary to make the job easier.
You will have to find out what works best for you, for instance you might find that the skipper needs to control the spinnaker halyard during the takedown because your crew isn't strong enough to pull the sail back on the boat with one arm while cutting the halyard loose with the other.
My best suggestion is to get on the water and practice, practice, practice. Consider going out and doing some sort of drill like Hoist - Jibe - Jibe - Takedown, then head back upwind and repeat. You need to practice until everything is second nature so if you do run into a problem, like a tight mark rounding with other boats, your able to keep your head outside the boat while your crew is taking the spinnaker down on "autopilot". Get out and practice and make sure you practice a few hoists, jibes and takedowns before the start of every race to make sure everything is untangled since the last time you sailed and so the routine is fresh in your mind.