| A spinnaker is a large sail that replaces the Genoa in | | | | The up haul and down haul system will be fully |
| light winds, it has its own technique when spinnaker | | | | adjustable and controlled from the cockpit. The down |
| handling and it must be emphasised at this stage, that | | | | haul will be taking the entire load from the spinnaker |
| there is no substitute for practise or development to | | | | and should be rigged accordingly. The up haul will hold |
| flying a spinnaker. | | | | the pole in a horizontal position when set. |
| A spinnaker is probably one of the more difficult sails | | | | The port & starboard sheets will be connected to |
| to hoist, being in light winds and a large sail area it can | | | | the spinnaker and then run back to the stern of the |
| have a tendency to twist and tangle around the | | | | boat and round a suitable roller cleats and returned to |
| forestay if not hoisted correctly. | | | | the spinnaker winches, therefore being controlled from |
| Firstly the spinnaker should be packed into its sailing | | | | the cockpit of the boat. |
| bag in the correct manner. The port, starboard and | | | | The spinnaker halyard should have a swivel |
| halyard connection eyes should be tide off to the sail | | | | connection to the spinnaker head; this will help the |
| bag top after packing the spinnaker into the sail bag, | | | | spinnaker in adjusting itself when being hoisted. |
| and in preparation of connecting the port, starboard | | | | You are now ready to hoist the spinnaker, steer the |
| sheets and the spinnaker halyard. | | | | boat with a favourable windward intake into the |
| Equipment and rigging a spinnaker. | | | | spinnaker. You will need one crew at the spinnaker |
| There are many different makes of equipment from | | | | bag to assist the emptying of the sail and free any |
| which to choose when equipping a new boat. Choose | | | | tangling that might happen thus, shaking it free. |
| the most suitable for your boat that will take the | | | | The main spinnaker halyard should be hoisted as |
| appropriate loads and size of spinnaker. | | | | quickly as possible but keeping one eye on the |
| You will require a spinnaker pole that is the correct | | | | spinnakers wind filling progress and adjusting the port |
| length and diameter for your boat, it will have an up | | | | and starboard sheets as required. The spinnaker pole |
| & down haul mid connection eyes, the end | | | | can be finally adjusted when the spinnaker is fully |
| connections should be snap-on stainless steel piston | | | | hoisted with the up and down haul winches. |
| type with quick release trip lines. | | | | When you come to dropping the spinnaker sail it should |
| The spinnaker pole will connect to the mast by clipping | | | | be undertaken as follows; |
| one piston end of the spinnaker pole onto the fixed | | | | Use the port or starboard sheet that is on the leeward |
| eye on the mast. The up haul and down haul system | | | | side of the sail i.e. the opposite side to the spinnaker |
| should then be connected to the mid pole eyes. The | | | | poles position. On the command of the skipper the |
| other end of the spinnaker pole will be clipped to either | | | | spinnaker halyard will be released and dropped under |
| the port or starboard sheets whichever is on the | | | | control, at the same time a crew member will pull in the |
| windward side of your point of sail, it should not be | | | | sail using the port or starboard sheet chosen and trying |
| connected to the clew of the spinnaker. The object of | | | | not to get the spinnaker sail in the water!. The |
| the pole is to help the wind flow into the sail area and | | | | spinnaker sail could then be packed back into its sail |
| maintain the shape of the spinnaker. | | | | bag correctly ready for re-hoisting at a future time. |