Cirrus Icon Development

So it looks like a lot of support then !  ... as stated we will be trying one out once the sail plan is totally set.  The ICON foredeck is long and proportionately very much longer than most of the boats being mentioned so the jib will be long in the foot and the pole very long as well.

Any thought out there about other systems to consider ?  What about a light/small carbon 'jib boom' - one that is restricted so it can keep the jib 'down' ?  Any practical input would be useful - if truly practical such a system could give most of 'dangly' benefits without all that 'orrible windage round our v.efficient Icon mast !?

Mike L. (aka Cirrus)   

On Grads we just had a cleat next to the mast and when reaching you could just keep the sheet in one hand and the pole control in the other, just play the two. We really missed it on Tasars with a stupid clip on pole. The great thing about the flying pole is that when its use becomes marginal you can just whip it out of the cleat and like magic its gone. Compare that to the Tasar which has a clip controlled by a string along the pole. Pull the string, after unclipping the other end from the mast and........ it dosent drop off, so you gybe with the bloody thing on and tangles in the sheets. Flying poles are the way ahead!

The pole is on elastic so you just retract it when you go into a gybe. The clew position is a balance between the pole pushing down and out and the sheet pulling in, so if the pole is too far out you would need to retract it a bit to let you pull the sheet in. The best crews work both controls in unison, however you can still reap many of the benefits on a set and forget basis. Usually a cleat with a sturdy fairlead to allow cleating/uncleating from interesting angles or a flipflop.

Thanks. On a reach is it just a case of: if the mast end of the pole is too low you can't sheet in tightly enough and if it is too high the jib leach twists too much? Do you have to raise the mast end when you gybe to prevent it whacking the foredeck? Apologies for all the questions.

Originally posted by Peaky Do you only half lower the mast end of the pole... ? ...is that not a constant adjustement ...?  ... is a pole better, worse or the same as barberhaulers for reaching?

yes, yes, much better.

Edited by JimC - 08 Nov 10 at 10:18am