On 2008-10-15 17:50:11 -0400, Wayne.B said:

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:19:07 +0200, "Edgar"
wrote:

When I had a 34 footer my wife was not all that keen on flying the kite with
just the two of us aboard but finally we reached a compromise which enabled
me to use the 'storm' spinnaker, and we used it for many miles although
sometimes when the wind increased when we had it flying the question of
getting it down without problems gave us some food for thought.

My wife and I always flew the spinnaker with just the two of us and an
autopilot. It was fairly easy as long as we were well organized.
For the douse we'd bear off dead down wind with the boom all the way
out and collapse the chute behind the main. A good spinnaker sock can
be useful also. We would sometimes jibe that way, dousing the chute
with the sock on the original tack, dipping the pole over, jibing the
main over and resetting on the new tack.

Jibing in light air and flat water, we would bear away to DDW, center
the spinnaker, center the main, dip the pole over, then jibe and ease
the main.

I've been resisting this sub-thread, but can no longer resist.

Xan ain't big, but her chutes are. The big one almost reaches the
transom-mounted turning blocks when sheeted tightly.

Pat may be onboard, but she is usually down below enjoying a good book
while we fly the chute.
Thus, I'm single-handing the cruising chute with Otto's help.

With practice, flying a chute is just a bit more more difficult than a
jib. Gybes could be a problem, but Otto gives us a nice smooth turn. At
the proper point in the gybe, throw the main over, blow the now
windward sheet, let the chute blow forward, then haul in on the new
sheet.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-à-Deux -- Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/