Al Carlson
10-14-2002, 05:27 am
Hello Don: This question may relate more to rigging than sail trim. I have been learning to use a new asymetric spinaker on a C36. I fly it off a new block set slightly higher and in front of the forestay attachment point on the masthead. There is a jib halyard which attaches to the head assembly of the jib roller-furler, this head being about 2 feet below the peak of the forestay. My question is this: I worry about the chute scoop control lines fouling on the head of the jib roller-furler after a few jibes of the genaker. I have been told to tie off these lines to a mast cleat and forget them. I feel like I need to jibe these lines to the other side of the forestay each time the boat jibes. Am I unduly concerned? Set 'em and forget 'em? Second question: when the wind pipes up to a point where the genaker needs to come down, often the chute scoop needs a lot of muscle to bring it down. Would releasing the tack of the genaker ever be appropriate to aid in bringing down the scoop, or should you always be able to bring the scoop down by just releasing all tension on the genaker sheets? And always do this headed dead down wind? Thanks for the advice. I'm a newbie with genakers. Al Carlson Orange Beach, Alabama