OzOne wrote:
Always found tacking with a spinnaker pretty easy.

Ah so. That explains the Etchells rule...

We'd let it drape around the forestay as we went thru the breeze while
pulling the pole in.
Immediately after passing head to wind the new brace/guy would be
eased as the sheet was pulled in and the pole pushed out again.

I can see how to do it, in theory. In practice, it has not worked so
well for me. Do you ever have problems with snagging on the spreader
tips? Also, how do you secure your spinnaker clews to the sheets?


Another boat from way back had an assymetric spinnaker that was
attached to the pole.
Gybing and tacking required the mast end of the pole to be removed and
the pole thrown over the forestay and picked up on the other side.
These things always carried kites in light air uphill because the
chute was cut more like a jib than spinnaker...the original screecher
from the 50's

That was a long time ago... and A-sails are still barely catching on
over here...


http://www.yachte.com.au/classes/gwen12.asp
a newer rig here designed for the most by me and the guy I was sailing
with

Cool looking little boat... no trap or hiking board?

Fresh Breezes- Doug King