retrieving the spi

I just got my spi returned from the sailmaker. It had lots of small fissures (usually less than 5 mm) around the first patch only. The sailmaker exempted a sharp edge on the forestay or the snuffer but said, that obviously the helmsman does not turn windward fast enough on the lee gate. He suggested that I should go up again as soon as the 2nd patch lies on the snuffer.
Can you comment on this?

That might be a good time to complete your turn however i do not believe it will stop the fissures, it has to be a fast drop and it has to be smooth, lots of silicon spray on the chute mouth, make sure all the ropes are clear and the spin halyard runs freely, I sail a I17, main, self tacker jib and 21sq mtr spinaker, I sail 1 up so when dropping the spinaker there is NO helm, so my drops arent always done at the pristine moment, I do not have fissures there, you will have a small sharp barb some where doing this, tape everything! Check the chute plastic dosent have a sharp edge, the 1st patch is too low for the spreaders to cut, check the metal rings further up the spinaker they may have a small barb, feel your frontstay if it dosent have plastic coating and the junction where jib is tied down to bridle, look for where ever contacts the 1st patch and you will find your culprit,
good luck

if they are small clean holes (no frayed edges), then it's rope burn from the douse. Making sure your retrieval line is on the inside of the spinnaker for dousing will help somewhat, sail spray will help, and perfect takedowns will help. The pin holes are really a matter of life. Keep in mind that they don't usually physically impact the spinnaker and can be fixed with small cut patches of sail repair tape that is available in colors to match your spinnaker.

He does have a point, once the pressure is off the halyard and all on the retrieval line, you [the helm] should be extending out on the trapeze and heading up
if your halyard/retrieval line is a bit short, this process will be hindered.
If it is a bit long..... spinny under the bow and broken pole! Don't ask me how.....

You can stop the rope burn! Use Dyneema for the retrieval line - I had a 4mm tapered halyard and my 'chute didn't get the holes any more. It is usually the poly-blended line covers or blended single-braids that are the culprit.

Agree. We stripped the cover off our dyneema retrieval line for the last section. No more rope burns afterwards.

Also, if class rules allow; taper the spi halyard; I'm running 2.5mm V12 where I do not touch it and 5mm Maffoli (type) where I do touch it. Also use a suitable lube spray.

This is a very clever and feasible idea. However, if rope-burn is the problem indeed, shouldn't have the holes have brown or even black edges?

it doesn't get ~that~ hot. It's somewhere between an abrasion and a burn.

Sometimes this does happen. I know...

Rick, could we ban this poster? This is nothing but sales propaganda, not really sure why he's here...trying to sell nfl jerseys. Hey, you're from New Jersey? Waht exit?....