Spinnaker/Genniker handling on MG30s
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Tony - Santana
Sep 9, 2009, 5:22:47 PM9/9/09
to Morgan Giles 30
Well, we never had an opportunity to try drying out. But we did have
a magnificant month cruising to the Scilly Isles and back. It was
head winds all the way there, and it took us 10 days with sojourns.
Then we had 10 days in the Scillies and 10 days to get back. The
return had some very fast passages in between long stop-overs during
gales and social engagements. The Scilly Isles are fantastic, if
somewhat tricky, with lots of white sand and hardly anybody on them.
I can thoroughly recommend Mark Fishwick's West Country Cruising
Companion; the seventh edition covers the Scillies thoroughly and was
consulted daily. The return passage had a number of long runs in
strong westerlies, which brings me to my main subject: spinnaker/
genniker handling on MG30s.
During my very first passage in Santana I put the spinnaker up under
the lee of the genoa and before rolling it away, as one should. But
when I came to take it down I found the spinnaker and snuffer halyards
had become wrapped around the rolling gear aloft, and I was unable to
lower it. Beating into Poole Harbour with the spinnaker still up and
full of water following a cloud burst is a painful memory! Ever
since, I have rolled the genoa away first and not unfurled it until
the spinnaker is safely down and stowed away.
My problem is that, however carefully I pack away the spinnaker in its
bag, by the time it comes to hoist it, everything is in a tangle; I
spend ages getting it straight and putting out the guys before
hoisting - in gentle weather this is just a nuisance - in stronger
winds or rolling seas it is a real trial and somewhat hazardous. By
the time the thing is down again, it is so tangled in the snuffer I
have rarely attempted to deploy it a second time without taking it
ashore to straighten it all out.
On this trip I had a real struggle in big rolling seas to get it down
when the wind had got up to F5. Since then I have made a number of
improvements: I have moved the snuffer lifting line from inside the
snuffer, where it just gets tangled with the spinnaker, to outside and
alongside the snuffing line; I have learnt to snuff the spinnaker
BEFORE removing the spinnaker boom and Barber line, and this has
avoided the spinnaker riding high while I am trying to snuff it. I am
wondering whether to try the reverse procedure: putting the pole on
before un-snuffing.
I am also considering fitting snap shackels on the guys and snuffing
line so I can untangle things by unclipping lines rather than having
to pull them through the tangle of other ropes.
On bigger yachts spinnaker poles are often stored up the mast and guys
permanetly in place, which must make things easier. What are others'
experience of spinnakers/gennikers on MG30s? What arrangements do you
have and how does it work out for you?
Tony
a magnificant month cruising to the Scilly Isles and back. It was
head winds all the way there, and it took us 10 days with sojourns.
Then we had 10 days in the Scillies and 10 days to get back. The
return had some very fast passages in between long stop-overs during
gales and social engagements. The Scilly Isles are fantastic, if
somewhat tricky, with lots of white sand and hardly anybody on them.
I can thoroughly recommend Mark Fishwick's West Country Cruising
Companion; the seventh edition covers the Scillies thoroughly and was
consulted daily. The return passage had a number of long runs in
strong westerlies, which brings me to my main subject: spinnaker/
genniker handling on MG30s.
During my very first passage in Santana I put the spinnaker up under
the lee of the genoa and before rolling it away, as one should. But
when I came to take it down I found the spinnaker and snuffer halyards
had become wrapped around the rolling gear aloft, and I was unable to
lower it. Beating into Poole Harbour with the spinnaker still up and
full of water following a cloud burst is a painful memory! Ever
since, I have rolled the genoa away first and not unfurled it until
the spinnaker is safely down and stowed away.
My problem is that, however carefully I pack away the spinnaker in its
bag, by the time it comes to hoist it, everything is in a tangle; I
spend ages getting it straight and putting out the guys before
hoisting - in gentle weather this is just a nuisance - in stronger
winds or rolling seas it is a real trial and somewhat hazardous. By
the time the thing is down again, it is so tangled in the snuffer I
have rarely attempted to deploy it a second time without taking it
ashore to straighten it all out.
On this trip I had a real struggle in big rolling seas to get it down
when the wind had got up to F5. Since then I have made a number of
improvements: I have moved the snuffer lifting line from inside the
snuffer, where it just gets tangled with the spinnaker, to outside and
alongside the snuffing line; I have learnt to snuff the spinnaker
BEFORE removing the spinnaker boom and Barber line, and this has
avoided the spinnaker riding high while I am trying to snuff it. I am
wondering whether to try the reverse procedure: putting the pole on
before un-snuffing.
I am also considering fitting snap shackels on the guys and snuffing
line so I can untangle things by unclipping lines rather than having
to pull them through the tangle of other ropes.
On bigger yachts spinnaker poles are often stored up the mast and guys
permanetly in place, which must make things easier. What are others'
experience of spinnakers/gennikers on MG30s? What arrangements do you
have and how does it work out for you?
Tony
Tony Voss
Sep 16, 2009, 9:44:57 AM9/16/09
to Morgan Giles 30
No responses to my post on spinnaker/genniker handling to date. I
wonder whether this is because no one else has a problem, or no one
else flies a spinnaker?
Tony
wonder whether this is because no one else has a problem, or no one
else flies a spinnaker?
Tony
kieron riley
Sep 16, 2009, 12:23:42 PM9/16/09
to morgan-...@googlegroups.com
well Tony i for one do not fly a spinnaker,i do however sometimes use a
twizler and usualy have no problems,it may be that this problem applies to
all spinnakers in which case a post on P.B.O would probably come up with
some answers,Kieron
twizler and usualy have no problems,it may be that this problem applies to
all spinnakers in which case a post on P.B.O would probably come up with
some answers,Kieron
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