To be really honest, I don't spend 20 min more time rigging only to fit the spi.

You guys must be including something that isn't related to the spi.

From a completely setup up sloop rigged boat I only need : 4 minutes to rig the spinnaker. Snuffer stays on the pole slides over the pin on the mainbeam. AHPC quick knots (see picture) take 10 secs a side to fit the support lines. The mid section supportline I just snap to the pole and I tension the whole system by lifting the pole in the middle and hooking it on it the line coming down from the bridle.

Spi halyard stays on the mast; so untie that run it through the block on the tramp and pull it through the snuffer sock using an extra line that you disconnect later. (this line is run throught the sock when disassembling the platform)

I leave the 4 ratchet block on the spi sheet and use the loops + balls system to fit two ratchets to eyelets in the trampoline ; the loops run over the main beam and back. And the two remaining ratchets are shackled to the sidestays.

Clock is running at about 2 minutes now.

The fitting of the spi and running of the retrieval line through the spi takes the most time; anything between 2 to 3 minutes. But after that everything has been done. 5 min is doable with the gear along side you. 10 minutes with mishaps and walking over to the car a few time. 20 minutes (for only the spi gear)? That's far to long.

Trick with running the spi retrieval line or to grap the luff at one corner and than sort of flake the spi to your left hand while walking down the luff to the top. Now all the patches can be easily found and you cna run the retrieval line through them even when their is wind on short. The spi flaps but it is controllable as you are holding the luff bundled up in yout lefts hand. Help of your crew is welcome but it is doable alone.




>>>Steve the problem with wanting to 'harass the bigger boats downwind' by using a kite is, they're all fitting kites too now and so eventually you'll end up back at square 1,


Try thinking of it this way. Everybody gets a kite with the jump in performance with it instead of you.

You'll leave the beach 10 minutes sooner, in some case even 20 minutes, by the end of the race the rest of sailors will be back on short and almost finished up packing before you cross the finish line.



>>>but with a shirtload more rigging to do to sail in a class, even more fragmented than it already is.


Sorry Berny, you are just looking for argument to support your favoured outcome. Fragmentation was created and perfect BEFORE the advent of spinnakers. It at all the introduction of spinnakers has made the F18. F20, Tornado and what not closer in performance than anything else. Mainly because sailing skill is more important now than ever without the spi. The example by steve of dropping your spi to soon is a perfect example of that.



>>>That sort of thinking is a legacy of a sport which is fragmented by too many classes. The various classes now have to race together simply to have a decent number of boats on the start line.

Okay, so if we all drop the spi than in some magical way we'll get all those boats back on the start-line doing one-design racing ?

That scene is GONE, not likely to return. The best shot at big one-design fleets we have right now are the Formula classes ; and without a spi a formula class is trying to fight a losing battle. I think even the A-cats themselfs will become a victom in time. Either that or they too must incorporate a spi.

We have a supercharged A-cat (wider at 2.6 mtr. and 160 sq.ft of sailarea instead of 150) racing at each race in at our club. The guy knows how to sail. But even he is working on a spi setup for his supercharged A. Problem is that in really light winds and really strong winds he can hang with the F18's and F20's. In anything else he is doomned. He reaches the A-mark first on the first leg each time, but after that the formula's pull a spi and it is all over. That is on elasped time. On handicap it is even worse.


>>In an optimum situation there'd be enough boats in a class to demand their own start and race only with boats of similar performance, not a mixed fleet where the 16ftrs get creamed by the 20ftrs.


It is exactly this exclusive "I want my own start" mindset that fragmentated the cat scene. Therfor it will not provide a route back to the glory times.

With all due respect; How are you going to attract all these sailors to your class when you don't want to sail in mixed fleets.

The argument you'll get it :"yeah, because you know we'll role you while sailing our current boats"


>>Fitting spinnakers to smaller boats simply delays the time when there'd be enough boats of similar performance on the start line, by further fragmenting an already seriously fragmented fleet.


How can a seriously fragemented fleet be harmed significantly more by a little further fragmentation. How bad is even more broke when it was broken beyond repair already ?


>>>Presently, you have a very limited number of Mozzies on the water and to make the situation worse, they're now racing in three classes. Not good.


From my perspective, based on Steve Comments and that of some Aussies, the Mossie class has really revitilized themselfs by adopting the spi. And I think as good as all mosquito's in SA with Steve are running spis now. In addition the international profile of the Mossies was significantly raised via this F16 route.

Now I mean, your points may be valid from an individual sailors perspective but in the larger scheme of things you will find that the only hold you down longer or lead to extension.


>>>The whole idea of developing the 14ft cat regatta concept is to consolidate by facilitating a group of classes with similar performance. Making one particular division within that class significantly superior is counterproductive.


Than what will be your selling argument to attract sailors to your class ?

Of course I understand that F14 is not my league so please excusse me for butting in.

Wouter