by GreenLake » Wed Jun 08, 2011 11:42 am
I continue to think that type of sail is interesting, but feel like taking a bit of an exception with the statement that a spinnaker is not an option if you're single handed. Just back from our local beer-can race where we had light to moderate winds (2-6 would be my guess).
I had no problems single-handing the spinnaker in these conditions, including gybing it around the mark. Actually, that was the very first time I attempted that maneuver, and I was surprised that it came off without disaster.
(When I singlehand I rig a bungee across the boat, and wrap another bungee around it and the tiller. That will fix the tiller in moderate conditions, but slide out of the way during a tack. That way, I don't need another hand to control that setup.)
I'm relatively new to spinnakers. Never had one, until someone gave me his old one last season. I still think they are ridiculously complicated, and if it didn't have to compete against "free", I would be ever so much more tempted to go with something like the UPS.
Since our informal races here don't pay attention to any class rules, I could in principle use a UPS for them, but that raises some questions. Used that way, I would expect that the jib would be needed for the upwind leg, and would have to be lowered to set the UPS for downwind / reaching. Correct?
What's your experience with it downwind?
~ green ~ lake ~ ~