This is not about spinnaker stops but it is about a spinnaker douse. It is an example of the forces large boats can generate.
It was my first sail/race on any C&C, the 1st race for brand new C&C 39 Corrie, Hull # 3 just commissioned for my sister's in laws. (They swapped delivery positions so that Hull #2, Windquest, could compete in the SORC) Competent skipper and competent (with 1 exception) and sufficient crew. Chute was set without stops on a course that was on the beam or just ahead in too much wind. After several rig/boat shaking broaches, the order was given to drop the chute. It was too dangerous for the foredeck crew to trip the shackle on the guy. The option was to let the guy run. I uncleated the guy not realizing that someone else had put a knot in the end. Stopped by the knot at the block, the chute was still violently filling and collapsing but now with the tack nowhere near the pole and the pole doing a good job of making the headstay look like a pulled bow string. With the skipper/owner's approval, I cut the guy at the block thinking I was only losing a knot's length of line. The guy then ran through the end of the pole with enough drag that combined with the pole's stressing of the headstay, when the sail pressure was released, the original equipment pole sprung aft into the shrouds bending it 90 degrees. Thankfully no one's head was up. And that is my Friday afternoon story. Have a good weekend all ! Ed C&C 34 Briar Patch New Orleans From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Bill Coleman Sent: Friday, April 11, 2014 1:55 PM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Spinnaker Stops I guess, in our case usually fewer hands on deck, and a larger sail. I don't think they are used much on smaller chutes. Granted, there are many times we don't need them, but you don't know that ahead of time, so we keep it banded in the bag. With only a few of us, I can get the chute up and nearly set, then come back and pop it. In this particular race series, http://www.erieyachtclub.org/racing-fleet there were just me, my daughter, and some girl placed on my boat against my wishes (on this particular day she was so hung over she spent the entire day hanging on to the leeward lifelines). Pretty difficult to handle that sail without them. Pretty difficult with them, actually, a broach just before and after this shot was taken, then down it came! Bill Coleman C&C 39 From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Josh Muckley Sent: Friday, April 11, 2014 12:12 PM To: C&C List Subject: Re: Stus-List Spinnaker Stops I guess I just thought you had a better way or a reason that our way doesn't/wouldn't work for you. Maybe our way requires more crew than you have or maybe your helm/tactician don't like going as far downwind to shadow the spin? I guess, to put it differently, what value does banding the spin add compared to a traditional launch from the bag or hatch? Josh On Apr 11, 2014 11:55 AM, "Bill Coleman" <colt...@verizon.net<mailto:colt...@verizon.net>> wrote: Sounds like you are doing everything right, seems to be working for you. Not sure what your question is. Bill Coleman C&C 39 From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com<mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com>] On Behalf Of Josh Muckley Sent: Friday, April 11, 2014 11:33 AM To: C&C List Subject: Re: Stus-List Spinnaker Stops Bill, I don't think our crew has ever had a problem assuming that the helm has his head in the game. Maybe we have been losing speed and races as a result but when we hoist the spinnaker it is being shadowed by the headsail because the helm has already started turning downwind. It is pretty hard to fill with the headsail up so the guy at the mast jumps the spin and then immediately drops the head. The spin inflates as the head is being flaked and tied. Once inflatted the helm can come up as needed. Are we doing something wrong or is it a matter of having enough people? Josh Muckley S/V Sea Hawk 1989 C&C 37+ Solomons, MD On Apr 10, 2014 2:22 PM, "Bill Coleman" <colt...@verizon.net<mailto:colt...@verizon.net>> wrote: I just sent this to Sailrite yesterday, and unfortunately they were unimpressed. <<I can't find spinnaker stops on your site, am I looking wrong, or do you not have them yet? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ6DteTOZ7I&feature=youtu.be Everyone who races starting 2014 has to have them this year, or face disqualification. There are tens of thousands of spinnakers that will need to be modified. If there was some type of fastener like a self piercing tiny grommet, or something that could be set and flared with a hammer or something . . . something simple. I supposed even sewing them by hand on a home sewing machine wouldn't be a big deal. I think regular Velcro may not release easy enough, it may be a certain type. I have not seen any of these from the major sailmakers to verify what they use.>> Their response was << No, we do not have spinnaker stops, but you can easily make them using Velcro and webbing or elastic >> So, looks like I am on my own. I think it would have to be a pretty weak Velcro so your spinnaker actually pops open. Does anyone have any good ideas or inside info on this? First race in less than a month! Bill Coleman C&C 39 _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com<mailto:CnC-List@cnc-list.com> _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com<mailto:CnC-List@cnc-list.com>
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