G'day I'm trying to get the spin on my Nacra 5.8 going, when I get going in proper wind it collapses with me doing wild round downs, we're really untidy even with two on the wire. We can keep it breathing nicely until the apparent wind moves forward then cant pull it flat enough. I use the setup as I bought it with the boat, the halyard is set so I can fold the spin back a hand span which is about 8 inches once doubled back. Would lifting the top (rope) bail up help? The ratchet blocks are on my sidestays would it help to bring them in to the inside of the hulls? I plan to get a flat spin but want to get a feel for the settings. I've put these pics in and would appreciate your input.
regards Jeff

Jeff,

your luff looks much too loose, any chance you can move the hoist up a bit? Also remember that having two on trapese will require you to let the apparent wind come further forward to power up making the situation worse not better.

Thanks Chris its eay to move the rope bail, how much slack do you think I should have in the spin luff when hoisted?

Depend on the age of the kite. F18 rule of thumb used to be you could grab the luff with your fist and turn it 90 degrees.

As Scarecrow said, the luff looks very loose.

Spi also looks like it have a lot of draft with the current setup. With a more tight luff this would change, but your leech does not look like you can increase the hoist too much.

How is your helm when sailing downwind with spi?
Did you change your mast rake when setting up for spi?
What type of boat did the spi come off, and how old is it?

G'day Rolf the spin was designed for a Nacra 5.8, it's in good condition and came with the boat. The helm is okay but I cant get this spin to get going like my Taipan 5.7 used to go, that must have been set just right because I just got on it and went. I don't adjust the mast rake for spin should I?. It is easy to lift the hoist as its just a rope bail that goes into holes in the mast track so I will just drill some small holes for a higher hoist, the actual top support for the hoist is a saddle about 3ft above with a rope to the top block. The hard bit is how high to take the hoist, I'm thinking of taking it 10 inches up. This spin does have a lot of draft as all the Aus 5.8 spins apparently did but my current setup isn't helping, I'm currently considering putting a flatter F18 kite on it. Thanks for the info Scarecrow I've got 2 days of sailing this weekend so I can have a real play with the setup

Not anymore. Most carry it tighter than that now.

Agreed - we started running our N20 tighter than that based on the F18 experience.

The luff of the kite in that picture is far too loose. It needs to be at ~least~ where you grab the luff with a fist and turn 90 degrees. That luff looks like you could do that with about a fore-arm length of luff.

So it's more like a gennaker than a spinnaker?

Closer...yes. I had the spinnaker luff about as tight as I've ever run it during tradewinds this year...served me pretty well.

was that the breezy T-winds? and your boat was singing like the church choir?

They all run together these days. Too much fun over too many years (and I'm begging for a kitchen pass for 2013 as well)

Thanks for the great info guys, sorry if my questions seem dumb, I'm trying to get a feel for this setting. When I set the boat up on the beach I grab the spin and fairly firmly twist it 180 degrees which is about 8 inches of slack, when you guys are testing how tight the luff is are you pulling the spin as hard as you can and just managing the 90 degrees. I've got to drill some extra holes in my 1 month old mast so would like to avoid too many practice holes.
regards Jeff

in the pic your bowsprit (spin pole) looks straight.

Does your compression tube on the bows prevent putting some pre-bend in your bowsprit (spin pole). That would add some luff tension

With the spin pole under the bow foil, the end of the pole is probably already as low to the water as you would ever want it.

Jeff
You only need about 3 inches of slack. A little less than half a hand turn.
If its a separate tack line setup let the tack loose and measure by pulling the tack of the spinnaker tight below the pole.
We are using 2 inches on the F18, but these are a flatter cut kite.
In stronger winds you can drop the traveller down to the footstrap, but keep the main on and you will maintain good height and speed without having to blow the kite, if you need to gain height.
But they are a full cut kite, so you will have limitations on tight reaching. Letting the tack go 6-8 inches will assist with tight reaches also, but I prefer dropping traveller.

Goose

Thanks guys the spin pole has about 6 inches prebend which has been enough to not invert. Thanks Goose thats great info, I have the mast up in my backyard now, waiting for a break in the rain to sort it out

Took the spin bail up 430mm, now it looks a lot better