Going Forward

[kimsails]

I have a question for those of you (the lucky ones!) who have actually been out sailing the Pocketship. My question is when you have to go forward to the bow/anchor well while you are underway, how do you do it? Looks to me like you would have to climb up over the companionway hatch, grab on to the mast and swing yourself around. Just wondering. Maybe the small dimensions of the boat make this less difficult than it looks to me when I am staring at the plans. I was particularly thinking about having to go forward to set up the spinnaker while underway. I can't imagine dousing the spinnaker without someone (probably me) forward to take it up. Looks like the tack is attached to the bowsprit. Appreciate any insights from actual experience.

Kim

[John C. Harris]

I've always set the spinnaker while standing in the companionway. Safest place in the boat.

Someone just asked me a similar question via email; I've pasted the question and answer unedited, below. As soon as I figure out how to go without sleep, I'll get some video of the procedure. A new PocketShip video installment is overdue.

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>
> Do you have any suggestions as to the best way to rig the spinnaker so that
> it doesn't have to be set up at dockside and could be brought up from below
> (when conditions advise) for deployment while under way (single handedly)?
>
>

You have to have what's called a "tack outhaul." In the manual, you
can see the block for the tack outhaul set at the end of the bowsprit.
I have a 1/4-inch line running out there with a snap shackle on it
for the tack of the spinnaker.

To launch the spinnaker, I stand in the companionway. I attach the spinnaker
tack to its outhaul, the sheet to the clew, and the halyard to the
head. I make sure the sheet has been led to the correct side and is
ready to go. Very quickly, I pull the tack out to the end of the
bowsprit, cleat it (I use the forward mooring cleats), and haul away
on the halyard. The spinnaker will fill instantly as soon as most of
it has been pulled through the companionway, so you have to move
quick! I've almost always done it solo, and I've still "gone seining
for shrimp" a few times.

To tack or jibe, I take the sail down completely and start over. I
don't even have two sheets for it. Thus, I only use it when I have a
nice long leg on one tack. Once or twice, in light air, when I had a
crew aboard, I was able to jibe the sail by handing the coiled jib
sheet around the forestay without dousing the sail. This took some
gymnastics "on the foredeck" and should only be a warm water, light
air experiment!
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White Bear Lake Sailing 3.jpg (213.33 KiB) Viewed 3197 times