[Public-List] Spinnaker pole topping lift location

[brooks.glenn at comcast.net]

Hi Bill, 
My topping lift is installed at the spreaders and works fine to control the whisker pole, which I also use ( more often) to boom out the jyb/genoa/drifter. I havent ever needed a down haul on the pole, and don't have a spinnaker sock. but the sock seems like a good idea. There isn't much load to speak of on the topping lift, so mounting a block below the spreaders works well. This year I am going to install a stout block at the forestay fitting at the bow and run a long outhaul each side to boom out the main when off the wind. Humphrey Barton rigged his Vertue XXXV this way on his first transatlantic crossing and spoke highly of the ease of controlling the boom when flying a spinnaker short handed. Other early cruisers wrote about this method, so will give it a try in a few weeks. Might be a worthwhile addition for down wind sailing. 


I've got a couple of blocks mounted each side of the aft taff rail, and run the spinnaker sheets through and back to the main winches. This seems to set a proper sheet angle. 


I also sail mostly single handed. Against my better judgement I carry a large and small spinnaker on board. H ave never had an idyllic day's sailing when flying the Damn things. Mostly I fly one to big for the wind when it is really sunny and I get lulled by the siren's song and use really terrible judgement about what could possibly go wrong on such a nice day. (Rationally, I figure I should only fly it in less than 10 knots or so, but always manage to put one of em up in more than that...) Aah but they are cursed with the mermaid's song, and call out so sweetly on downwind runs! so if you do put one on board, never, ever gaze into the sail locker when it calls, or you will surely be snared into frantic hours of set up time and lost, lost I say in wild desperation soon as you haul the windward sheet - no matter how softly the apparent wind! I'd get rid of mine in a heart beat, but worry endlessly that I might eventually find a useful reason one day to have em on board... haha, Fair Winds and great sailing!! :> 


Glenn B. 
S/V Dolce #318 







----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Wallace" <wayfarer3134 at yahoo.com> 
To: "alberg 30" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> 
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 6:19:13 PM 
Subject: [Public-List] Spinnaker pole topping lift location 

I have most of the bits now for a spinnaker, but there isn't a topping lift for the spinnaker - there is a spinnaker halyard installed and ready, but not the lift. Does one usually install a topping lift from the top of the mast or from part-way up, and if part-way up, is the mast strong enough for the load? The down-haul I understand gets mounted just over the anchor loncher back wall so that it has something strong to attach to. 

The sheets run back to the turning blocks on the rail - I probably need to add another set as the original jib blocks are too far forward and I'm using the spinnaker blocks for the jib-sheets. I will have to choose between the spinnaker and the jib as I only have the one set of winches, and I don't expect I can manage the spinnaker without winches. 

The only other thing I think I still need is a spinnaker sock - I will be flying it single handed most of the time and dousing it without a sock seems just about impossible. 

Thanks, 
Bill. 
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