Top secret spi halyard setup

ok... I take it this is a single line halyard/tack line set up. My feeble mind can't figure out how that is run.
I might need to set this up because it is clearly what is keeping me from being in the top 1% of sailors around the world.
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I guess my question would be where is the back to back block for the tack line. is there any problem with this set up when rigged with the jib?
Do you think there is a significant wind effect if the halyard for the spin comes down to the front beam about 1.5 feet away from the mast?

I also think this is only to use on a one-up setup.

2 remarks:

- More lines = more weight
- If you have the back to back block along the forestay, it also takes a lot of wind when sailing upwind ....

But it looks nice!

Gill

So Wouter, does the halyard run inside the jib luff or outside? If the latter, doesn't it mess up the jib on one gybe badly when the spinny is up?

I don't think there is a jib in this case. Hans sailed one up at Zandvoort at least, and there don't seem to be any jib fittings in the photos.

Even without a jib I still don't think I would like to double the ropes going up the mast (or forestay) and have the back-to-back pulley swinging around up there as well.

As I understand it the only reason the F18s put the back-to-back up the mast is so they can lead the halyard from 1-2 metres up the mast and the crew can stand up to pull the spinnaker up.

Surely, the tidiest and least windage way has to be with the pulleys running along the pole.

This setup was found on a boat that have never sailed with a jib and mostly likely will never be sailed with a jib. It is fully geared towards singlehanded sailing.

Personally I agree with Tim, I too would not have double lines running up the forestay.

My idea it to run it like this :

In words :

I would loose the double block (back to back block) completely. I do this by having only a single block where the double block should be. And I'll tie only a single line (blue) to this block that will pull the tack out. The red line is basically the spi top halyard with the other end being the retrieval line. from the cleat on the mainbeam it will go forward to the single block and make a turn back there. Then it will run through a block just in front of the forestay and up along it. This way only a single line will be there. Of course it will go through another block at the hound fitting and through the block at the spi gate before coming down to the snuffer hoop and the top of the spi sail.

I'm hoping to achieve two things with this setup. First because I have lost the double block the force on the spi tack is twice it was before and it is also twice the force that is on the top of the spi sail. This way the spi is always pulled down towards the pole. Secondly the tack will be pulled out first when hoisting and only when it hits the tip of the pole will most of the spi be pulled out. This is pretty much how crews pull the spi out on boats with a 2-line system. My idea has the same behaviour but now with a single line setup. When doucing the behaviour will be inreverse. A third advantage (hoped) is that when hoisting the spi the red line received some slack then with the old system. About 5 feet more (1.5 meter). So the retrieval line can be made tight on the upwind legs but with the spi hoisted is will very slack allowing to be sheeted out unhampered. I'm hoping this will clean up the trampoline further on upwind legs.

I'm not sure when I will try this setup. I may just have to buy a new top halyard and that is expensive. Otherwise I just have the splice an addition length of line to my current top halyard and lengthen it that way. Maybe something for next season.

Anybody is welcome to try this idea before I do however. As long as you report back with the results.

The basic idea to have the spi halyard run up along the forestay and not the mast is too :

-1- Not disturb the flow of air over the mast. Maybe this helps in upwind performance
-2- Create less friction in the halyard line as it won't rub against the mast, spreader and hound fitting

Wouter

Wouter,

That system would allow a huge amount variation in the spin luff tension. With every gust of wind the rig will move forward & the system will slacken a little.....as Greg Goodall mentioned luff tension is critical & should not vary like it would in this case.

My person preference is exactly the same as your diagram, but the pulley on the pole is simply moved to the main beam at the base of the mast. When the mast pushes forward in the gusts then you only get half of the luff tension changes.

A lot of people might think their rig doesn't move around alot.....think again....

The windage on a 4mm piece of line is bugger all either around the mast or around the forstay when you cosider the amount of windage that the pole and the bag does create
You must consider that if you miss a gust that the other guy gets or blow a tack.
ALL the best equipment or inventions wont fix that
Regards Richard

Makes sense, John has shown already to what extend the stays can stretch. (have a look at the forestay slack)

yes, the shrouds will streach a little, but most of that will be the mast moving between the hounds and Spi.