[C320-list] whisker Pole vs Spinnaker Pole and diameter sizes

[Bruce Stanley]

Thank you Brian and Warren for your replies.
I will probably buy the parts and endeavour to put them together this week.
I have seen a seriously raced C320 and they had the fixed ring on the mast
arrangement.
It too, was somewhat aligned with the cringle.
I will also look at the Forespar site.

cheers
BruceS
Sydney Australia

On Dec 1, 2007 6:26 AM, Warren Updike <wupdike at hotmail.com> wrote:

> Bruce, I was fortunate to have bought an old whisker pole I found on the
> internet for our 150 genny.  Don't know the brand, perhaps an old Forespar.
>  It is about 18' extended (which I never do) with a 2-1/2" dia.  It is very
> adequate for downwind sailing.  I mean to try it for upwind in lighter air.
> Be sure to use a preventer on the main when wing-n-wing.  The Forespar web
> site has information on sizing a pole.
>
> I mounted a fixed ring on the front of the mast that works just fine.  I
> found the mounting point by observing the vertical position of the cringle
> at various times under sail and marked a point on the mast level with the
> average cringle position.  I don't think the exact position is all that
> important as the pole will move up and down in use anyway.  I store the pole
> on Forespar stantion mounts bought on the internet.  They work just fine.
>
>  It can be a bear rigging it with any wave action; but, eminently doable.
>  For downwind, I insert it between the first and second shrouds and attach
> it first to the sail (I've tied a ss ring in the knot of the sheet for the
> purpose,) leaving the other end resting on the far lifeline; then, attach
> the pole to the mast; finally, extend the pole.  It's easier if a crew
> member hand the sheet whilst doing this as the sheet position will need to
> change as the pole is extended.  I intently avoid having to tack with the
> pole out as it means detaching the pole and re-installing on the new tack.
>  I try to wait until I'm ready to tack off onto a reach before so doing.
>
> Warren & Pattie Updike
> C320, #62, 1994, "Warr De Mar"
> Frog Mortar Creek, Middle River
> Chesapeake Bay
>