| Following an article I wrote on learning to sail with a | | | | spinnaker at the same time pulling in on the spinnaker |
| spinnaker, I thought it may be worth introducing to the | | | | sheets and allowing the spinnaker to fill with wind, jam |
| beginner and sailors that have not had the pleasure of | | | | off the halyard and adjust the spinnaker sheets for |
| using a spinnaker chute. | | | | optimum sailing. |
| Designed in America for the Flying Dutchman class it | | | | If your sailing yacht has a jib furling system it is |
| has proven it worth in many sailing races that allow the | | | | advantages to furl the jib away when learning to use |
| use of a spinnaker chute. Its is fast to hoist and | | | | the spinnaker, enabling the crew to concentrate on the |
| lowering the spinnaker so in a race with light airs it can | | | | spinnaker, especially when sailing a yacht with a large |
| be a major benefit on time when hoisting around the | | | | overlapping Genoa. |
| mark. | | | | Spinnaker Stowage |
| All sailing yachts are different in size therefore each | | | | Provisions should be made to stow the spinnaker to |
| spinnaker chute can be slightly different in setting, but | | | | either port or starboard sides of the yacht. The |
| generally the basic setup is as follows. | | | | spinnaker should be stowed clear of the floor of the |
| This description given is when the spinnaker is hoisted, | | | | yacht and kept as dry as possible. When initially fitting |
| if you can imagine a continuous loop from the | | | | a spinnaker chute to a yacht is should firstly be |
| spinnaker halyard to a mid point connection on the | | | | positioned for free running of the spinnaker when |
| front side of the spinnaker sail, for a down haul | | | | hoisting and lowering, not applying extra load on the |
| connection. The down haul leads down to the | | | | spinnaker in this operation. Then the deck fittings should |
| spinnaker chute and then horizontal to the stern of the | | | | be positioned and fixed in the correct places bearing in |
| yacht on exiting the spinnaker chute to the stern there | | | | mind the crew's position in the yacht. Care should be |
| is a free board length that allows for pulling on the | | | | taken to reduce the friction in the sheeting system and |
| down haul rope. At the end of this is a roller block | | | | the use of large diameter blocks is preferred. Bulls- |
| returning the down haul forwards, which in turn | | | | eye deck fitting should be used where you have long |
| becomes the spinnaker halyard, going horizontally | | | | runs of sheet to lift the sheet clear of the deck, |
| forward through a jammer to the mast base and then | | | | especially when the sheets are wet. |
| up the mast and connecting to the spinnaker sail head | | | | Training |
| swivel. | | | | After practice, it will be obvious that certain timings of |
| The function to lower the spinnaker is to on skippers | | | | the hoisting and lowering of the spinnaker can be |
| instruction; un-jam the spinnaker halyard and release | | | | considerably reduced and the crew becoming more |
| the spinnaker sheets in a controlled manner, then pulling | | | | efficient. |
| in on the down haul which will allow the spinnaker to | | | | After initial training, each crew can develop their own |
| collapse down into the spinnaker chute until fully | | | | version of these systems which will differ from yacht |
| stowed and jammed off. | | | | to yacht, but basically improve sailing technique and |
| To hoist the spinnaker un-jam the halyard and hoist the | | | | hopefully help win the race! |