[C320-list] Mast Cranes and Asymmetrics.

[Irv Grunes]

Thank you Bob,
We are going through the total learning process trying to study the
different asym sail shapes for our only Chesapeake Cruising light wind (10
and under knots).
Your emails have been the most informative we have received.
Thanks again


-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com]On Behalf Of Robert E. Sloat
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 6:55 PM
To: C320-List
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Mast Cranes and Asymmetrics.


Irv-If you get an asymmetric make sure the sail maker gives you a CD or a
detailed instruction manual on its use.  UK gave me both a VHS tape and a CD
which was indispensable.

Below is the drill used with my UK Flasher, ATN Tacker (which hold the tack
to the forestay near the anchor roller bail) and their Stacker (sock):

When not in use, I keep the spinnaker halyard attached to
a small cleat on the port side cabin top track to stay out the way of the
furling gear at the top of the forestay.  When launching the spinnaker on a
starboard tack, I walk the spinnaker halyard around the front of the
forestay, connect the spinnaker to the halyard on the starboard side of the
boat, launch
and then tie the sock control lines to a cleat on the starboard cabin top
track.  This keeps the halyard in front of and above the forestay and
exiting the mast without touching the forestay.

With my setup having the idle spinnaker halyard cleated to the port side of
the boat, if you forget to walk the spinnaker halyard around the front of
the forestay for a starboard launch and instead walk the halyard in front of
the mast through the foretriangle and launch on a starboard tack the
spinnaker halyard goes out of the mast exit above the forestay, down
through the forestay triangle, exiting on the starboard side of the
foretriangle and the halyard will rub on the back side of
the forestay and furling gear which can cause chafing and possible more if
there is a lot of wind.  If you then jibe from starboard tack the halyard
will
wrap around the front of the forestay and furling gear making lowering the
sock very difficult and
making it very difficult to impossible to lower the halyard on either tack.

Since you do outside jibes with the spinnaker tack line attached to the
anchor roller bail, the sail goes around the front of the boat on a jibe and
the spinnaker halyard when properly set up just follows the sail above the
forestay to the new tack.

When dousing with the sock, if required, I move the dousing lines around the
front of the forestay to the side the spinnaker is flying from and easily
bring the sock down.  The no-brainer once the spinnaker is properly launched
is to launch and douse from the same side.  If not possible, just walk the
sock control lines around the front of the forestay to the side the sail is
coming down on.

I installed folding pad eyes for the spinnaker blocks per Catalina's deck
plan which are on deck at the rail lateral from the primary winches.  Some
folks install more than one on each side to fine tune the sail, but I am
into high performance crusing rather than outright racing, so I only used
one on each side.

Get the sail, learn the drill of setting up all the lines, launch and
dousing from the sailmakers instructions, get a little nervous preparing for
the first use, have three people aboard for the first few uses and then
enjoy the pride of going fast down wind and showing off a little.  Pick an
interesting color patten as you trademark.

Bob Sloat
Savannah Hull 894 (2002)




----- Original Message -----
From: "Irv Grunes" <igrunes at comcast.net>
To: "C320-List" <c320-list at catalina320.com>
Cc: "Seiden, Bob" <theseidens at earthlink.net>
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2007 11:52 AM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Mast Cranes and Asymetrics.


> Bob,
> What a relief to know that the halyard exits above the forestay.
> Thanks for the reply.
> Irv Grunes #851
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com]On Behalf Of Robert E. Sloat
> Sent: Monday, August 13, 2007 12:27 PM
> To: C320-List
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Mast Cranes and Asymetrics.
>
>
> Irv-I have benn flying a UK Flasher asymmetric and there is no problem
> with
> the halyard crossing the forestay on jibes. I don't have a crane and after
> 4
> seasons of fairly regular use there is no chafing of the spinnaker haylard
> of any of the
> spinnaker gear.  If you were using the spinnaker for days at a time, there
> may be some benefit in using a crane and the additional equipment to keep
> the sock away from the mast and
> possibly prevent chafing of the halyard.
>
> The spinnaker halyard exits the mast above the forestay fitting so the
> spinnaker halyard clears the forestay if properly connected to the
> spinnaker.  The key when launching is to make sure that the spinnaker
> halyard is in front of the forestay and does not pass through the
> foretriangle.
>
> For the folks who added a crane, did you have to install an exit hole and
> fitting in the mast for the spinnaker halyard going to the crane block?
>
> Bob Sloat
> Savannah Hull 894
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Irv Grunes" <igrunes at comcast.net>
> To: "C320-List" <c320-list at catalina320.com>
> Sent: Monday, August 13, 2007 10:03 AM
> Subject: [C320-list] Mast Cranes and Asymetrics.
>
>
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> We are still looking at Asymetrics.  Looking for any comments on my
>> scheme
>> below to eliminte the need for a crane.
>>
>> Found this Quantun website:
>>
>> http://www.quantumsails.com/pdf/asymmetrical%20trim%20guide.pdf
>>
>> I sent this to my sailing partner:
>>
>
============================================================================
>> ===================
>>
>> BUT the Quantum article says:
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------------------
>> What equipment do I need?
>>
>> . Spinnaker halyard that is above
>>
>> the forestay.
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> I am not sure of this BUT
>>
>> I think that our forestay goes to the top of the mast.
>>
>> I think the sheave for the spinnaker halyard is below it and lets assume
>> that it is on the port side.
>>
>> Then flying an asym on the port side, the halyard would not be in contact
>> with the forestay.
>>
>> Then if jibeing the asym to the starboard side, the halyard would have to
>> cross over the forestay and would probably chafe.
>>
>> As I think about it, I think the solution would be something like our
>> backstay adjuster that has the ball on the line to keep the thimble from
>> pulling up into the sheave.  If a stopper ball were put on the halyard, a
>> knot on the halyard to hold the stopper ball, and then 8 inches or so of
>> chafe guard were put on the halyard and then the shackle to the halyard.
>>
>> Then the sail would be hoisted that 8 inches or so lower, but when jibed,
>> the chafe guard would protect the halyard from the forestay.
>>
>> This would eliminate the requirement for a crane and allow us to use the
>> spinnaker halyard safely.
>>
>> I will bounce this off the list to see what response we get.
>>
>> Irv
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Bob Seiden [mailto:theseidens at earthlink.net]
>> Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2007 8:18 PM
>> To: Irv Grunes
>> Subject: Re: Asym's
>>
>>
>> Bob
>>
>> Requesting quotes from a lot of the lofts.  Will keep you posted on the
>> quotes.
>>
>> Saw this at the quantum website.  See for setting and dousing
>>
>> http://www.quantumsails.com/pdf/asymmetrical%20trim%20guide.pdf
>>
>>
>>
>> READ IT!
>>
>>
>> We want it for running in light air.  That would seem to mean the middle
>> sail.
>>
>>
>> The diagrams seem to suggest that the head of the asymmetrical comes well
>> below the top of the mast.  Especially with a sock, that should keep the
>> head of the sail well away from anything it could chafe on.
>>
>>
>> Quantum says absolutely nothing about a crane.
>>
>>
>> me
>>
>>
>>
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