Asymmetric spinnaker with solo sock
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Hello,
I regularly use a 120m² asymmetric spinnaker with sock on a Pogo 36. My wife and crew member is at the piano and takes care of the tack, halyard and sheeting.
When I’m on watch, I’d like to be able to set or lower the spinnaker on my own, but certain operations seem tricky to me, in particular sheeting in and out while the sock is being lowered or retracted, and releasing the tack when lowering.
Could someone who is used to carrying out these operations solo with a sock tell me how it’s done?
Best regards,
Lionel (Kairos)Hello,
Sorry, I won’t be able to meet your expectations, because when I do it solo, it takes a long time. First of all, I lower the hood as soon as I put on the spinnaker (but you’re not learning anything).
The yard gave me an idea for the same question. Install an opening block on the deck (on the chainplate of the droppable forestay) to pass the loop of the sock. This should allow the sock to be lowered in the right direction from the mast step, where it’s easier to hold the sheet (I grant you that this requires a certain dexterity…). But I haven’t tested it.
No better, sorry, but I’ll take any advice.
Happy surfing.
Eric
Hello Eric,
I’ve received a few replies about Hisse-et-Ho.
My summary is as follows:
Sending:
I prepare my three points (tack, sheet, halyard) and hit the end of the sock strap on the staysail chainplate. From the cockpit, I stand at 160° to the true wind, bring the spinnaker tack to the end of the bowsprit and pre-bend the sheet.
I hoist the sock from the foot of the mast and lock the halyard to the cleat on the mast (I’ve got one on the right side). I roll up the sock with the line. Personally, I hit it at the foot of the mast to avoid it getting caught in the spinnaker in the event of a coconut). I jump into the cockpit to finish tucking in the sheet and take up the halyard.Lowering:
I set up at 170° to the true wind. I ease the sheet but keep the spinnaker inflated. I also ease the tack a little. I throw myself forward, pull down the sock and hit the end of the forefoot on the staysail chainplate. I retrieve the halyard from the cleat on the mast and lower the spinnaker into its bag in the forward locker. I free the tack and the sheet from the cockpit and finish stowing the spinnaker (fastening the three points with a tourniquet).That’s all there is to it!
Hello Lionel,
Personally, I never do spinnaker maneuvers alone when I have people on board.
At night, we lower the spinnaker to put on the gennaker and nobody goes to the bow alone. There’s always someone in the cockpit before you go forward.
To set the spinnaker, first take the sheet off the luff and free it from the anchor. The sheet is already pre-boarded, then hoist the sock.
Pull up the sock and trim the spinnaker.
Then we hit the downhaul sheet on an opening block on the staysail luff.
To lower, come between 150 and 160 of AP wind.
Shock the sheet.
Lower the sock by taking up the sheet on the mast winch after passing through the opening block.
To gybe, especially with a small crew, lower the sock and then gybe the mainsail.
To gybe alone on the fly, it’s not possible to take care of the mainsail and spinnaker at the same time.
Risk of coconut, breakage ….
Hello Henri,
The original question concerned the operating sequences for hoisting or lowering the spinnaker single-handed.
In your explanation, it would be interesting to know what is done in the cockpit and what is done on the foredeck. Is this the case for solo sailing?
Also, I don’t understand this sentence at all: “To set the spinnaker, first you take the sheet off the luff by freeing it from the anchor.”
Finally, as far as gybing is concerned, I’ve been doing it single-handed without any major problems since a course organized by the association in Lorient, with Benoît Hantzperg. The important thing to remember is that the spinnaker should start to change tack when you’re 168° from the wind.
The sequence is as follows:
– Stand at 148° from the wind,
– Carriage in center, mainsail in line,
– Under pilot, lower 20° and then ease off the mainsheet and take up back-reefing,
– As soon as the clew has passed the other edge, finish lowering by 30°,
– Continue sheeting in and pass the mainsail,
– Trim the spinnaker,
– Shock the mainsheet.
Works pretty well.
Best regards,
Lionel
Overall, I agree with Henri.
Contrary to some of the ideas expressed, especially those about Hisse and Ho …., it’s better to use a sock not at the foot of the mast, but near the GSE furler.
Try it: it’ll be adopted!Some solo sailors use a pulley far forward with a return to the cockpit. Nickel.
Be careful not to make Benoît say what he doesn’t mean. Please understand that he’s only talking about real wind!
Best regards, happy sailing to all
Xavier
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