Spinnaker check

I usually set up the chute in the bag, point the boat downwind and launch it while I'm on the beach to scout for problems before discovering them on the water. The other day it was blowing 20 so it was a bit of a Nantaucket Sleighride in the sand trying to see if the lines weren't tangled. What do you guys do before a regatta when it's blowing? I figure the only alternative is to run the tapes to make sure there are no problems as you do on a monohull with a symetrical chute. Thanks, Greg

Only if it's VERY light (less than 5mph) will I pull the kite ashore when rigging.
I always just follow the tapes.

+1

I never remove the spi from the bag. Problem solved! Bag is UV resistant and protects the spi anyway

I have always set the kite on land with the boat pointed into the wind, or idealy just slightly off it. Have someone at the mouth of the kite to help the kite out of the bag and guide it back in if it is a bit windy.

I normally attach the halyard and tack line first with the sheets attached but not through any blocks, then hoist, run the sheets through the blocks then slowly drop as I feed the retrieval line.

Have also done it wih the boat on its side in the past, pointed into the wind or wind more under the tramp.

Flaking the spinnaker with the patches up makes it much simpler. The you just unroll it on the hull and string everything up.

I have a line that goes thru the patches on the kite so these always get threaded correctly. Start with the kite in the chute and set up correctly.....

Pull out enough to expose the whole of the downhall to the top patch; with a bit of rope about 2m long; put a stopper knot in one end; thread the other end thru the bottom patch, following the downhaul, to the top patch and tie a bowline; you now have a guide next time you put it up.


To set it up…..

1, put the clew onto the end of the pole.
2, Follow the luff to the head and tie this on (if you stuff the kite into the bag right; you can do most of this with the kite still in the sail bag
3, Dig out the bit of rope you added above; you now have a guide for the downhaul; make sure you get the DH the right side/inside the clew line and thread the DH; Remove the guide rope.
4, Pull it in the bag; rig the sheets (again the right side of the uphaul)

5, I usually do a partial hoist to check everything is the right side of everything else; and as Andrew suggests, if it’s howling you can tip the boat on it’s side…


To pack away

1, remove from tack
2, remove head
3, undo sheets and put these on the sail bag
4, Pull spi out of the chute and find the downhaul; thread guide rope; untie downhaul
5, stuff body of kite in bag

Put it all in the bag, stir it around a little, try and get it exactly right and then give your self time for a practice launch before the first race as I bet there will be one or other little thing wrong to sort.

Quite interesting putting your boat head to wind, running to the front of one or other bow, balance on one foot whilst leaning on the bridle, wrap one arm around the forestay, unhitch what ever is the problem , and then get yourself back to the tramp before the boat turns downwind. I'm well practiced

Do any of you guys have pics of the rigging and setup to raise, please....U can share..?

tks,
Blade X1