Blade Spinnaker Dousing

We are having problems dousing the Spin. I changed to a 2 line system and now the spin drops so fast it ends up in the water and is hard to retrieve.

I think it needs some drag in one direction (dropping) so it takes a little load to come down. I would like no drag going up.

Anyone solve this problem already?

Do you pretension the retrieval line before releasing the top halyard cleat. This can make a noticeable difference.

Wouter

Tried it but didn't notice much difference.

I haven't noticed a problem. Lots of people use a silicon spray around the snuffer hoop.

Maybe you could try to point a little bit upwind when dousing, that way the wind will blow the sail aft and should add some drag and doesnt turn it into a "ball" when snuffing.

Maybe your halyard is too long. It depends on your system, but the loose halyard on the tramp should run through a block and be tensioned by shockcord. It shouldn't drop from the top, unless you pull on the retrieval.

How does that system work Dermot? When we used a shockcord in that way it completely ruined our light air performance. We used to tie it off to stop it, but it was a problem remembering to untie the knot before we had to douse.

I am impressed with the speed in which the spin comes down with the sngle line system (I had my doubts about the single line system to start with) and three patches. I am guilty though of not watching the spin when it comes down when I am solo because I am looking at the snuffer line and I haven't sailed it enough yet with crew to necessarily watch thespin getting stuffed in that situation. The single line system helps I thinnk because when you release the halyard cleat the tack line pulls out automatically putting tension on the snuffer line and also lets the spin fly up a little rather than down.
I see how a little tension on the snuffer line might help but as soon as you release the halyard that bungee is going to be worthless due to the pull on it anyway. It would be ideal to have a little resistance on the halyard when snuffing but I don't know how you could rig that type of system up but I will think about it.

This may be a technique issue. As suggested avoid going dead down wind for the douse. You really don't want the spin falling into the water in front of the boat.
Another suggestion is to sit on the spin sheets for the first few tugs. This should keep them from flying out in front of the boat and potentially under the hull.
With this combination, the spin should fall more to the side, onto the hull and lines supporting the pole.

Pull faster <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I use (and used on the Inter 17) two slightly different methods (Single line system - single handed.)

1, Up to about F3-4 and fairly flat water

a, (rounding mark to stbd) Come in of the wire and stand on the Spi sheet with your right foot, drop the traveller off and then stand on the mainsheet with you left foot.
b, uncleat and go hand over hand to drop the kite and at the right moment lift your foot on the sheet so all goes into the bag.
One thing to be carefull is that there is a point when the mainsail powers up (if the boat is not tracking) and you can have a bit of a hull fly. When standing, a quick hop to windward can save things (but you HAVE to know it will otherwise, stamp of the mainsheet rope with your LEFT foot and it will come uncleated - with practice). The other option is to just dump the mainsheet as the kite comes down.

2, windy and or lumpy

a, If on the wire, come in and sit/rest foot on the sheet
b, dump the traveller
c, get forward and uncleat, and then go hand over hand (but it is not as quick as standing up), at the right moment ease the sheet.
d, keep the mainsheet to hand in case the boat powers up and you fly a hull.

I think that Terry is right, "Pull faster".
We seldom have trouble with retrieval. My crew is very fast - her arms are a blur as she drops the spinnaker, gets the boards down and is out on the wire in seconds.

My tackline is separate. The halyard runs from the spinlock through a block on the tramp and back to a block which runs on a length of shockcord, which in turn is tied between the toestraps at the back of the tramp. The halyard then goes through the back of the chute and up to the patches. We have a thin line which goes from the top patch to the head of the sail to prevent stretching when pulling.The halyard rope is just long enough not to pull on the retrieval side of the halyard in light winds and spoil the shape of the spinnaker.
I haven't had to think of this before because we do not have a problem, but maybe in strong winds the spinnaker blows out in front of the boat and does not drop in the water. And in light winds, the shockcord is strong enough to stop the halyard dropping too quickly.

Stephen,

Are you sailing 1-up or 2-up? If 1-up, the "pull faster" thing is right: take up all the slack in the retrieval line before releasing the halyard and then get the first few metres through really fast. Once the patches start to hit the snuffer, it'll be under control. If you sailing 2-up and helming, just shout louder <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Paul