Symetric Spinnaker

Ian

Don't go for a skiff style main on a Fireball.  I have a Fireball and a Cherub and the two different styles work well in each boat but are not transferrable.  IMHO this is why...

Fireballs are slower and the apparent wind is coming from lots of different angles.  You have to play the mainsheet (and not just play, but move lots in and out) where you really do need the cleat (or another arm).  I know we like to think we don't, but we do.  With the Cherub, the main is always as near as dammit on the centreline.

How are you going to gybe, hoist and drop if you can't cleat the main?  Your crew will feel much more on their own if you can't just quickly cleat it, sort something, and pick it up again.

With the Cherub, upwind the crew takes the main, and works it hard hand over hand.  You won't be able to keep up with it with one arm, and you'll be slow!

And also, the angles will be all wrong.  When you're wiring on a Cherub, you are at a similar level to the ratchet block on the boom, and your arm at full stretch is going to be at least 2m from the ratchet, giving you plenty spare rope space to play it.  In teh Fireball, you'll never even be able to straighten your arm without your fingers dissapearing into the ratchet block, and your arm will be at a really awkward angle, making it really hard work.

I guess if you want to try it do so, but unless you give the main to the crew it's not going to work!!!

There is quite a veriity of Cherub main sheet systems as you can have anything you want.

Quite common at the moment are a bridal at athe back lead forward and either straight off the boom or from jamer on the deck but there are also alot of boats with posts and center mains

Not entirly relevent to spinikers but I have just set up my Cherub with the cuningham lead out to the ends of the wings both sides neer shrouds for the crew to adjust. the

Out haul is a peice of notted rope can be adjusted on the shore

Kicker/Gnav cleat is on the mast with the last purchace made up from the end of the jib sheet (Self tacker so only one) crew adjusts.

Main sheet is dead ended to the T-Foil control line.

i tend to go by feel and you cant tell the crew what to do to make it feel right       i spent years on mirrors an such trying to tell the crew what to do to make the sail feel right an then when i got a fireball it all became so much easier.

another thing is if the crew is flat out an you wana loose a bit of power with ya cuningham the crew would need to lean in to reach the controls or the helm needs to go forward for them both not very good on boat speed, handeling or ease.

like i said though a main sheet coming of the boom to the crew with their better view of the sail as a whole.

fair points though i would suggest you try givin the crew the sheet an you taking the jib.

i think i'll stick with my strut for now seems to work ok but mabe the main sheet, hmmm is it clas legal?