Is this a Legitimate Technique for Using a Spinnaker?

[chris5977]

I have a spinnaker pole but need some training on how to use it.

[sailorboy1]

first lesson: don't fly the spinnaker at the dock


PS - seems like a small spinnaker for your boat

[atoll]

half the trick is to untie the boat before hoisting sails.............

[chris5977]

I know it's a small spinnaker for my boat. What's wrong with putting sails up at the dock is I want to inspect them?

I'd still like to know if anyone else uses their spinnaker like a genoa...

[GrowleyMonster]

Originally Posted by chris5977

I know it's a small spinnaker for my boat. What's wrong with putting sails up at the dock is I want to inspect them?

I'd still like to know if anyone else uses their spinnaker like a genoa...

If it makes the boat go, rhen I guess its okay, but you will go faster if you untie those ropes holding you to the dock.

[MarkJ]

Yes, you can use it like a genoa. Test it out on a day like you have in the photo. No need for a pole. Wont do as well as one with a pole.
Recutting it with a straighter luff will make it better too. Or just buy an asymetric spinnaker.

[Teknav]

Not a good idea to have your sails up while in a slip! Your sailing neighbors will be mortified at the sight. Find a vacant space, spread your sails on the ground then inspect them. (If you still need a hint...wind in your sails while in a boat's slip...you'll wind up buying the slip and the boats attached to it! In physics, this is known as enalistic collision.) Mauritz

[Hudson Force]

I recently flew my asymetrical in my slip for a while to dry out my sail before packing it away. There's no harm in this if you have a very light wind abaft and a sturdy dock with no close neighbor, piling or obstruction to snag your sail or sheets. I also have often run my propulsion engine in gear at about 1500rpm for a while at my slip at times and without any concern. There's far more strain on my dock and pilings when in setting in the slip in winds over 25 kts with my two mile fetch to the northeast. I like to use a "sock" to put away and deploy my spinnaker so I can handle it more easily by myself. I don't use a pole, but there's a wealth of literature and instruction available. Hopefully, someone will add some good advice for you here.



You might notice the bundle of white fabric at the head of this cruising chute. This is the sleeve or "sock" that can be pulled down to make spinaker handling much easier.

[roverhi]

Set your sails anywhere you can without inconveniencing neighbors or accidentally tearing the sail. Most days the Marina will be uninhabited and no problems setting any sail you care to fly. Learned how to set a spinnaker by doing it in the slip. Really easy to get good pictures and no problem holding a heading.

[chris5977]

Thanks for the info. My dock is concrete and very sturdy so putting up a sail is not going to hurt anything.