Movable spin pole?

Well, I've sailed with a hooter twice now, and it has certainly added a new dimension to sailing (read: need more hands). I've got a question, however, regarding downwind travel or deep broad reaching with hooter or asymmetrical spinnaker. Seems to me like it would be advantageous to be able to swing the end of the pole from side to side a bit so that the tack of the sail can be set to windward to fill better on a deeper heading without being blanketed by the main. Is that a reasonable thought? Or am I missing something?

BTW, I've worked out a way to do it in my head, but I thought I'd ask for other's wisdom before putting time into it. Anyone else tried this?

Thanks!
Kevin

Interesting question. We have been looking to do that on our 24' keelboat- asym. bowpole setup with pivot. We also are going to put a roller furling Hooter/Reacher on our G-Cat so the discussions turned to whether it will be fixed or pivoting. You do add complexity with another set of controls. The question is whether the extra controls, hardware and labor while sailing is worth any VMG improvement.

Sure! It's been done. Don't know what boat you have...

But if you don't have one, add a FOIL. Install a TRAVELLER TRACK and CAR on the top of the foil. Rig a cleating system for your traveller car, either something like your mainsheet traveller (one cleat, would be difficult) or two cleats at ends of track, with turning blox to lead to fwd beam, something like that. Install a BRACKET (or bits of line to save weight) to the traveller car allowing your pole to attach to the car, yet allowing the pole to shift about some. Go sailing, adjusting the forward traveller as necessary.

Of course you will have to rethink your bridle and forestay but that shouldn't be too difficult

I sail an AMF Trac 14 (currently the Windrush) that I've restored. Interestingly, there are cleats already provided at the edges of the forward crossbar for what are called "tweaker" lines, which are really used mainly in low-wind to rake the mast forward. My thought is to toss the tweakers and reassign those cleats for a line to adjust the position of the spin pole (from cleat on each side to corresponding tip of hull to end of spin pole). Seems like there would be a definite advantage to adjusting the set of the pole under sail on certain headings, though I guess a real life trial next week will provide the final word on the matter. Gotta do it soon since even Florida waters are getting cold for this thin-blooded transplant from Tennessee! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />