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 Southall Current boats Nacra 5.8 1703 Animal Scanning Services Nacra 5.8 1667 Ram Raider Nacra 18 Square Arrow 1576
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.
Re: Improving spinnaker performance?
[Re: JeffS]
#253233 10/08/1201:53 AM10/08/1201:53 AM
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?
Re: Improving spinnaker performance?
[Re: JeffS]
#253240 10/08/1206:33 AM10/08/1206:33 AM
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
Jeff Southall Current boats Nacra 5.8 1703 Animal Scanning Services Nacra 5.8 1667 Ram Raider Nacra 18 Square Arrow 1576
Re: Improving spinnaker performance?
[Re: ]
#253241 10/08/1207:20 AM10/08/1207:20 AM
"Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda "Excuses are the tools of the weak and incompetent" - Two sista's I overheard in the hall "You don't have to be a brain surgeon to be a complete idiot, but it helps"
Re: Improving spinnaker performance?
[Re: David Ingram]
#253245 10/08/1209:03 AM10/08/1209:03 AM
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.
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.
Jake Kohl
Re: Improving spinnaker performance?
[Re: David Ingram]
#253258 10/08/1211:18 AM10/08/1211:18 AM
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.
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
Jeff Southall Current boats Nacra 5.8 1703 Animal Scanning Services Nacra 5.8 1667 Ram Raider Nacra 18 Square Arrow 1576
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
Re: Improving spinnaker performance?
[Re: JeffS]
#253309 10/09/1201:07 AM10/09/1201:07 AM
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
Jeff Southall Current boats Nacra 5.8 1703 Animal Scanning Services Nacra 5.8 1667 Ram Raider Nacra 18 Square Arrow 1576
Re: Improving spinnaker performance?
[Re: JeffS]
#253351 10/10/1212:04 AM10/10/1212:04 AM