2023 Queensland 18ft Skiff Championships – Day 1
Champagne sailing conditions on Waterloo Bay yesterday for the first two races of the Queensland Championships. Race 1 was a real sprint race, with Bigfoot winning with a time of […]
Read more...It’s more of a challenge than you may believe. Let’s look at the scenario and why it’s a little different to hoisting the spinnaker on a modern boat.
For starters, the spinnaker pole comes in 3 or 4 pieces, so you are assembling it as you pole out. Also, there’s no topping lift, so you rely on the luff of the spinnaker to hold the pole up. This can make it very interesting indeed when the call comes from the blunt end of the boat to hoist the spinnaker that’s actually longer on the luff than the gaff’s peak is above the water, but nevertheless any for’ard hand worth his salt will once again save the day.
Being historical, there are no fancy beak ends on the pole – just some stopper blocks and tapered or shaped ends. Depending on the boat, the braces may come with some form of loop, or the spinnaker tacks may have it. Either way the loop is slipped over the outer end of the pole, while the inboard end will fit into a “snotter”, which is traditionally a rope with an eye spliced each end, wrapped around the mast and with one end passed through the other so it can grip itself onto the mast.
The magic word when hoisting or lowering the spinnaker. Without a backstay you can get some pretty ugly moments, leading to some even uglier sounds! On some of the historical 10s, a seperate wire or rope is used, but on some and on many of the historical 18s, the spinnaker halyard is passed back to the tuck to be belayed there and acts as the gaff backstay.
Note: in the 10 footers, steps 2-7 have to be completed about 2 feet further aft than practical when it’s blowing so you don’t go down the mine!
Good winds!
Champagne sailing conditions on Waterloo Bay yesterday for the first two races of the Queensland Championships. Race 1 was a real sprint race, with Bigfoot winning with a time of […]
Read more...Notice of Race – 2023 Historical 10ft Skiffs Australian Championships Sailing Instructions – to be released prior to regatta ONLINE ENTRY FORM Entries and Crew List Willy Weather – Bulimba […]
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