We use a carbon fiber pole on Water Phantom, C&C 36 XL/kcb, for our kite(s) and have 'oscillated' back and forth between doing dip-pole jibes or end-for-end. The pole is a relatively light Forte carbon fiber pole with snap-in fitting on both ends.
We always use lazy sheets and guys. As the driver, I don't have strong feelings about which method we use or should use. However, especially in breezes above 8 knots, it looks to me like our jibes are taking too much time when we end for end the pole. Of course I share some of the blame if I can't keep the boat headed downwind during the jibe but even when I seem to manage keeping her downwind, the mast man struggles to get the pole into the fitting and made--taking valuable time and giving a lot of downwind separation to our competitors. Of course, it also puts him at risk for the pole smashing him about the head and shoulders if the pressure builds on the kite before he has it made. I am convinced that my boat can sail to her rating upwind in breezes above about 8 knots--less not so much!--but downwind we often waste what seems like too much time on jibing. I say this with confidence since when we raced non-spin with a whisker pole, until we learned how to set the pole downwind, we would beat every boat to the windward mark and have most of them pass us on the way downwind. Once we got the mechanics straightened out, no one passed us downwind even if a few gained on us. OTOH, if we dip pole, the bow person often gets the new guy in the pole in the incorrect position (with his back to the bow), so there is certainly a need for more practice. My question for the list is what method should we invest practice time in so that jibing can be as routine as tacking. It seems that at 36 ft Water Phantom and a fiber pole could go either way but I would prefer to always use the same method so that we have a chance to get quick at it. Charlie Nelson Water Phantom C&C 36 XL/kcb cenel...@aol.com
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