COVID-19 Update January 8 2021

Happy New Year to all members and followers of the Brisbane 18 Footers! The Commodore would like to reinforce the Queensland Health advice in regards to the lockdown of the […]
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.
Avro and Scamp battle tide and rain, 2009
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.
Mistake's mistake - 2008
Marina playing with fire
For'ard hand on Merle waits for the rest of the pole.
Luckily for crew of Viola, it's not blowing during this drop!
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!
Happy New Year to all members and followers of the Brisbane 18 Footers! The Commodore would like to reinforce the Queensland Health advice in regards to the lockdown of the […]
Read more...For those not on Facebook – while the Club was unable to host a full regatta to celebrate its Centenary at the beginning of October, it was able to hold […]
Read more...The Brisbane Eighteen Footers’ Sailing Club was the new name for the start of the 1920-21 season, as reported by the Telegraph and The Courier Mail on 30 September 1920, […]
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