spin takedown

[bob lytle]

Hi to all, I just took out the boat for the first time. It was only in about 3 knots of wind and the 2 A cats that were with me beat me up pretty good. What I learned was: the amount of time it takes to undo a knot is INVERSELY proportional to the amount of lightning hitting around the boat when the storm came.
My question is: using the EO snuffer, where does the retrieval line attach on the spin. I never could get the whole thing in the snuffer (on the land) so didn't use it today. Any suggestions would be great.
Thanks, Bob

[W.F. Oliver III]

Bob,

Glad to hear you got your boat on the water! I am more happy to hear that you managed NOT to get electricuted!

Now about that E_O Snuffer--

Starting at the top puller patch on the spin (there are two and I speak of the one closest to the head of the spinnaker), tie the line to the top patch with a bowline and tape it. The line then comes down the spin and through the bottom puller patch. The line now is lead through the snuffer hoop and bag. The easiest way to place the bag is tying it to the top of the tramp. After the line exits the rear of the bag, you should pass it thru a single bullet style block (ties to the rear tramp rod) and then thru the halyard block (on tramp (stnd)).
Next the line (now under the tramp) passes through the eyelet on the bottom of the mainbeam (near the mast). From there, take the halyard up through the front of the mast and in front of the shrouds/trapeze wires, through the bail, around the spin halyard block, back down through the bail and tie it to the head of the spin with a taped bowline.

Kind of verbose? Sorry!

A couple of more notes-

Install a line loop at the spreaders as we discusses to pass the halyard through.

Tie the tack to the snuffer hear, so that the take is about 3" above the padeye.

To operate the snuffer, pull the spinnaker up at the spin halyard block and cleat it. Off you go!

To take down, while sailing "semi hot" (not straight downwind) release the halyard and pull on the retreival line at the rear of the bag until the spinnaker is inside the bag.

If you can't figure this out, then give me a call.

Happy sailing,

W.F.

PS-In really light winds (less than 6 knts) the A-Cats are faster than ANYTHING upwind. They are lighter-end of story! Once you get to 7 ktns of wind, you will start matching them upwind and and will pull away fast downwind! At the point that you are solidly doubletrapped, you should sail faster upwind and WAY faster downwind. Have fun!

[49er]

W.F.,

What is the latest about the mid-pole snuffer availability? I am convienced that this system is much better than the E-) snuffer.

Thanks,

Ian