A trimaran is downwind not rolling over from one side to the other, and the
spinnaker pole is nonexistent. With a little practice, you can handle the spinnaker
alone, but always handle it with respect!!! If you respect the spinnaker and use it
with reason, it is great – also when cruising.
SPINNAKER SHEET:
Is set from the cockpit to the block on the outer top middle pad eye and block of
the aft wing and directly on the inside of the top shroud/side stay to the
spinnaker eye named “Clew” on the spinnaker and “inside” between the
spinnaker luff and the forestay and or Code-O to the other side. This is best and
prevents the sheet from falling in the water in front of the boat and in the worst
case also can get jammed by the centerboard. Also install the tack line from the
bowsprit in the spinnaker corner named “Tack” on the spinnaker.
SETTING THE SPINNAKER:
Go downwind by 160-170°. Make sure the normal furling genoa is rolled out to
give more wind shade and to avoid the spinnaker twisting around the forestay.
You can best set the spinnaker either from the leeward trampoline or directly
from the leeward float hatch, where the spinnaker is normally stored. Make sure
the lines run correctly, that the spinnaker halyard for example is not twisted
round the forestay or the diamond spreader. IMPORTANT - keep sailing
downwind and hoist the spinnaker in the sock behind the mainsail in the big
“wind shade” downwind.
CAUTION: If you feel any resistance hoisting the spinnaker sock, stop pulling
immediately and check it is not jammed behind the mainsail and or the spreader.
Pull up the spinnaker sock to the spinnaker halyard sheave box and then pull or
set the slack of the spinnaker sheet, so the spinnaker does not get air too early.
Do not pull tight, and now pull up the sock, when the sock is about halfway up –
pull out the tack to the bowsprit and fix the tack line – then pull up the rest of the
sock and fix the line you pulled up the sock with on the cabin top handrail. Now
the spinnaker sock is fixed at the top.
Then luff up a bit with the boat to approx. 140°, and when the spinnaker fills up
with air, roll up the genoa. It is very important that your spinnaker fills first, or
you will find yourself furling the spinnaker into the genoa. It never pays sailing
with both genoa and spinnaker at the same time.
JIBING WITH SPINNAKER:
Go fully downwind like 170-175 degrees and KEEP the mainsail where it was,
DON’T pull over the mainsail yet – pull over the spinnaker sheet and spinnaker
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