Spinnakers from Australia

[Clemo]

Do any Aus members have a spinnaker, and if not, is there a reason?

Has anyone had a spinnaker locally made?

If anyone has a shortcut to the details, can you let me know please.

I'm sure that I can search for the detail, but if anyone has already done it, thats what this site is about.

And finally, are there Mac specific features of asymetric (as offered by Mac) and conventional kites, that anyone knows about. (Appart from the obvious fact that they are different sails with different purposes etc.)

I have seen pictures of US boats flying kites, just wondering about it, thats all.

Thanks to all.

Clemo
Living in Goulburn
Sailing an X out of Batemans Bay

[Boblee]

G'day Clemo
Have you tried contacting Phillip from Synergy Yacht's ?(Aust dealer) if he doesn't have something he will know where you can get one.
We use a spinnaker on the and it works great especially with the chute scoop.
Bob

[kadet]

I don't have one yet but am thinking of getting one for those 5 knot mild wind days.

I was looking at getting www.sailsolutions.com.au to make up one with a sock. Rolly Tasker sails have a good world wide rep.
I have to wait till the new year as boat dollars are Christmas bound

Asym Spins size for all Mac 26s is 23 foot Luff, 20 foot 6 inch Leech and 15 foot Foot. Any sail maker should be able to make you a spinnaker.
The best part of getting one made up is you can choose your own colour scheme

With the way our $ is probably cheaper than getting one shipped from US anyway.

[davidbagnall]

I have one...
It is still brand new but my plans are to give it a shot after I get my furler setup (among the list of projects). I must admit I sail mostly single handed and mostly over 12 knots so I haven't had much need for it so far.

[brianhar]

I have a spinnaker and have used it many times in racing.

Phillip from Synergy yachts put me onto Ray Brown Sails Pty Ltd, 25 Vincent Ave, North Brighton, SA, (08) 8298 5665. Cost $925 inc delivery to Melbourne. Mine is Blue with a bit of white to match the fast blue hull. Looks real good and go's pretty good too!

I run an internal to the mast spinnaker halyard with the exit block being 400mm above the forestay join. Exit point is roughly 1/3 towards the front of the mast allowing the mast to still rotate on gybes. Tack at this point has been tied off to the front pushpit. Very easy to run, and unlike on my skiff, can run square to the wind. To assist with holding it out on a square run, we use an extendable boat hook as a quasi spinnaker pole.

I am working on a short bowsprit (1m ish), which will encompass a single line retreival and hoist system. I won't have this finished until after Xmas, as my main thrust at the moment is fitting electronics and a self tacking/furling headsail.

Once I'm finished all these mods, I'll post them on this forum for comment.

[Clemo]

Thanks for the input, guys. A spinnaker is definitely bubbling to the surface, as we solve other items. But its getting close to Christmas.

Like you David, I'm taking a layered approach. Build the repitoir by adding one thing at a time, when conditiona are right.

Brainhar, you mention a bowsprit. I guess that makes yours an asymetric kite. Did you consider and reject the symetrical variety?

To you and David; do you have a second set of winches on the transom to handle the kite?

I think they might be a good investment for my big genoa anyway. I hate the way the sheets on it double back to the standard roof mounted winches.

And finally, do either of you use a sock to set and retrieve the thing?

Ray Brown made both my furling headsails, so he was high on the list for my spinnaker. But, as mentioned, a US item might be worth investigating. (I remember a red and white one being offered on this web site.)

But ordering in Aus does mean that I can negotiate the colour scheme. (A foreign manufacturer wouldn't understand the Paramatta Eels or Geelong Cats.) (Second thought, better go with the Cats, a South Australian might not know about the Eels.)

Thanks again for all replies.
I value your advice highly.

Tks
C ya.

[Jack Sparrow]

I have a factory supplied one and use it a lot of the time it is the only way to get the Mac moving

Jack Sparrow

[Clemo]

Thanks for the post, Jack.

Two questions:

Asymetric or symetric?

Do you have an extra pair of winches back near the transom?

Tks
C ya.
Clemo

[Jack Sparrow]

Factory asymetric
I run a jib so the front tracks run the cars I then load up the cockpit tracks with the spinnaker cars and sheets after stowing the jib I swap the jib sheets over on the factory winches as I raise the spinnaker

Jack Sparrow

[Clemo]

Thanks 4 the reply Jack.

It looks a lot like I'll be having an Australian made Asymetric for delivery early in the new year.

And not bothering about a second pair of winches at the transom.

That makes it even more affordable.

Tks to all who responded, I will keep you posted with progress.

Tks
C ya.

[brianhar]

Clemo,
good decision on going for the Assymetrical kite , it's much easier to set, drop, & gybe. You will tend to find that it's much easier to dial up how much speed you want to deal with as well. The higher you point, the faster you will go (plus the more you will heel, and the more distance you will need to cover to get to the bottom mark).

I'm working on a small bowsprit, primarily to make the gybes that bit easier. The kite just loves to wrap around the jib furler. To help alleviate this, I have also ran the kite halyard internal to the mast, coming out 400mm above the forestays. Far enough up to give separation from the furler, yet not too hight to possibly compromise the strength of the mast with the sideways pull of the kite up top.

I run my sheets through ratchet blocks attached to the same point as the Genoa blocks. I just used a long 'D' shackle to do the job. So far the sheet loads have not been that great as to need a winch, but I have not used the kite in over 20 knots yet. That will have to wait until I race the boat in the Winter series at Geelong (We race a skiff and only cruise the Mac during summer ).

Enjoy

Brian

[Clemo]

Hi, quick note to say that I have ordered a radial cut asymmetric kite from Ray Brown.

I won't be on the water till after Christmas.

Seasons greetings & fair winds,
C ya.
Clemo.

[Boblee]

Where will you be putting in Clemo? and hope you enjoy the spinakker (favourite sail) as much as we do, now all you need is a chute scoop

[Clemo]

Bob, I live in Goulburn, 'bout an hour north of Canberra.

New Horizons lives in Batemans Bay, 'bout 150km away.

Its like having a caravan down the coast, 'cept boats beat caravans every time.

The next few weekends are busy but January will see some time in the marina.

Now with a new toy, I can't wait.

As luck would have it, the new sail is in Paramatta colours, (Blue & Gold) Not that that influenced me.
There is still room for a symetrical kite in the suit of sails. Have to be Blue and White for the Geelong Cats.

Enjoy the Season,
Tks, C ya.
Clemo.