Short Spinnaker Pole, What's it Used for?

[surfmachine]

Hi, I have an Adams 31' grp sloop. It has the standard length spinnaker pole, and also another with the normal parrots beak that open and closes for a ring/sail attachment. the other end is permanently open with a roller in it and a sort of open beak attachment. The pole is only about 2.3 metres long.
Does anyone know what it would be used for in setting the sails?
Thanks..... Keith.

[Paul L]

It sounds like a reaching strut. You use it hold out the spinnaker pole's after guy so it gets a better angle to hold the tack
Forespar - About Spinnaker Poles

Paul L
.

[surfmachine]

Cheers Paul, thanks for the link, that is what it is!
Keith.

[Paul Elliott]

Yes, this is definitely a reaching strut. There should be a fitting on the mast (usually) for the "parrot's beak", and the strut will point out amidships to push the guy out. The guy goes into roller in the open end. There is sometimes a lashing or other way to secure the pole so it doesn't get pushed sideways -- I lash/clip mine to the shrouds.

[surfmachine]

Ahoy Paul, lucky I didn't throw it away in Langkawi!! I was thinking that I needed something to keep the pole from chafing on the forward shroud when sailing with the jib poled out, I resorted to shortening the lazy sheet and securing it to stop the pole from skying out too much. I haven't used the cruising chute as yet as most of my cruising is done single handed and I don't have a spinny sock. I do have a new one bought from california last year for my Farr 727, it will be too short for the big chute on this 31', it was made for a fractional rigged 25'. I wonder if I could still use it with the spinnaker from the 25' or use it with the spinny from the 31', but not have the last 2m of the spinny doused in the sock. It is ATN style sock, very good! Any thoughts on this question Paul?
Keith

[Paul Elliott]

There shouldn't be a problem with a slightly short sock. Once you get the majority of the spin in the sock things are pretty much under control anyway. For two of my socks, the last few feet of the spin doesn't get covered, so I just stuff it in after the sock is on deck. You want the clews exposed, or at lease easily accessable regardless.

To prevent pole/strut chafing, you might try a leather patch on it where it will hit the shroud. The strut isn't going to put much pressure on the shroud, but it will get scuffed up if you don't protect it. The spin pole will certainly damage itself and possibly the shroud if you pull it back too far. Of course that's one reason you have the foreguy.

[surfmachine]

Thanks again, I will ask my wife to pop the sock in the box of stuff she is sending me from australia to pick up in Langkawi. It will come in useful.
Keith