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Riv View Drop Down
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Posts: 353 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Riv Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Laser 2 spinnaker
    Posted: 23 May 16 at 9:10pm
 I think I might go for transient's idea about the knot in the centre of the sheet.......and be cautious.

Interestingly I've got 15m of sheet and on the L2 site there was a reccomendation to use 13.4m so I may cut 25cm of everytime I go out and see how it goes.
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Spike Boland View Drop Down
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Posts: 4 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Spike Boland Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 May 16 at 3:43pm
Originally posted by Riv

I'd like to put stopper knots in the sheets to help set them roughly for the hoist. What is a good way of estimating their position?

I would say such knots are a total no, no, though stopper knots are really helpful around the boat, jib sheets, out haul etc....

If you are hoisting on a reach then have the crew ready with guy so they pull it round through cleat as the kite is hoisted (Only works on starboard).  You can leave the sheet cleated and the spinnaker will fill and you are off and running.  If windy you should release cleat so that crew has time to get on trapeze.

On run pull the kite up any-time - as you will be standing up - then grap sheet and guy and control things until crew has put out the pole, secured the guy, let off kicker, raised board and passed round refreshments  etc....

Cut spinny sheets to minimum length - ie so crew can still control spinnaker on a broad reach from the trapeze standing way back on side of the boat.  This will stop unnecessary flogging and stop sheet going round end of boom which is not a good thing to happen.

You can mark the sheets for a guide where to set guy.  It is really important on a tight reach to get the pole just off forestay.  However the exact position varies each day with wind strength, pole height, position of mast, amount of kicker you will have on etc.... so at a championships we would test it out each day and determine the the location for that day.  It is not fun going down a mile long reach with your pole rapped around forestay (waiting for it to snap) and crew unable to come in without capsizing and it is brilliant to dive down and pile over the top of everybody struggling - so getting it right is really worthwhile.
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GarethT View Drop Down
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Posts: 714 		Post Options Post Options   Quote GarethT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 May 16 at 8:34pm
Thinking back a couple of decades, we didn't run the halyard through the block at the back of the cockpit. I'm guessing that was to reduce friction.
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transient View Drop Down
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Posts: 715 		Post Options Post Options   Quote transient Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 May 16 at 6:15pm
The L2 several times world champs used to put knots in the sheet/guy to do that very thing. We tried it, it can make pushing the pole out very difficult, particular the last couple of inches. For my light female crew it was impossible.  If you've got a muscle bound crew you might be OK with it. 

Also: If there's an emergency (capsize maybe) it could make life tricky to sort out if you can't release the tension........But as I said, the technique has been used successfully by some. Give it a go, see how it goes.

In the end we settled for a knot in the mid point (between the cleats, center line of boat point) of the sheet/guy. This doesn't make the kite set on hoist but it does prevent too much sheet flying out when you get things slightly wrong. 

edit to answer your question.

The knot needs to be able to let the pole go fully forward at the right height (without rubbing the forestay). Maybe set it on the beach, try it out and then adjust. 


Edited by transient - 22 May 16 at 8:35pm
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JimC View Drop Down
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Posts: 6662 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 May 16 at 5:32pm
Originally posted by Riv

I'd like to put stopper knots in the sheets to help set them roughly for the hoist. What is a good way of estimating their position?

That sounds like something that could end in major tears! I kept meaning to have a bit of whipping sewn into the sheets to mark the critical point so I could have them cleated off in the right place for hoists, but stopper knots would make me extremely nervous!
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Riv View Drop Down
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Posts: 353 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Riv Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 May 16 at 9:58pm
Yes, free running sheets make a really big difference as well, that brings me onto another question:

I'd like to put stopper knots in the sheets to help set them roughly for the hoist. What is a good way of estimating their position?
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RS400atC View Drop Down
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Posts: 3011 		Post Options Post Options   Quote RS400atC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 May 16 at 9:33pm
One boat I sailed on, the kite was a pig to retrieve if the ratchets were not switched off.
Friction on the sheets can be as bad as the halyard.
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JimC View Drop Down
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Posts: 6662 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 May 16 at 8:09pm
Yeah, spacing the patches is a good idea. It might be worth laying out the kite on a flat surface and figuring out what a good location for the stopper would be with view to reducing bunching but still getting it down the chute properly. A bit of whipping round the halyard where the knot will go is handy for repeating the setting. A good kite will have the patches located for the spacing.

Edited by JimC - 19 May 16 at 8:09pm
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Riv View Drop Down
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Posts: 353 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Riv Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 May 16 at 6:55pm
Thanks Chris ,

pulling both patches into the shute at the same time is what is happening, so I'll have a go with your idea as well.
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Chris415700 View Drop Down
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Posts: 62 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Chris415700 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 May 16 at 6:09pm
Try threading the halyard through the lower patch, then through the bead, then tie a stopper knot about 250mm from the end of the halyard, then pass through the upper patch and tie another stopper knot. That way you will not be trying to pull both patches into the chute at the same time.
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