Cirrus Icon Development

Originally posted by Bellingforth   We had a great sail, despite the W/L course (grrrr), so had to do a bit of gratuitous reaching after the race.  Eventually came ashore accompanied by huge grins! Mike B.

Edited by Neptune - 24 Sep 12 at 8:54am

The jib (dangle) pole is a great innovation .... back during the development programme I was dead against the thing untried but we do subscribe to the 'try it anyway' ethos so gave it a go.  It proved really good and I happily eat my original words now.  This forum played a key part in prompting us that way (!) and in the end the whole Icon rig was significantly altered and optimised around the system. 

It obviously started with the National 12's .. but who was the innovator who started playing with the idea ?  ... or made it so practical in the end ?

TH the main benefit is that it can so easily continue to 'feed' the main with a well controlled slot at deep angles.  A basic jib stick cannot do this and is only really intended for running and the rest of the time the only way could have the precise control of the slot we have is with barber haulers - but they are far inferior and run out of range very quickly.   In summary Icon can go at improbably deep angles offwind with the main still working in an aerofoil mode - and thus hang on to many of the lesser spinnaker boats without that complication (and weight).

TH .. sounds like you are finding the 'extra' previously mentioned.  It takes a bit of precision / experimentation to get it right but once you understand what is going on it is easy.

Mike L. 


Edited by blaze720 - 24 Sep 12 at 10:30am

Bellingforth,

I think it was Patrick Elcombe who came up with the dangly pole, he did a nice write up in one of the N12 newsletters about it.

We would be interested in any refinements in pole fit-out.  Devoti are just gearing up for routine manufacture of 'dangly' poles (up to now have taken them via us from the UK) so it might still just possible to mod the specification.  I have seen many varying details on different poles around the UK across several 2 sail classes - so what set-up is 'best'  ? We now do not think you need a sheave in pole if you have a turned stainless 'mast end' fitting that locates in the end of the pole - a mod of our own.  In our latest spec the 'control line' exits via this end as well as the shoick cord.  This shockcord that 'raises' the pole has a proportion of its overall length housed within the dangly tube (anchored at the 'jib end').     This version allows us to use a smaller diameter tube than those with a sheave .. and Devoti are also now looking at tapering the tube towards the jib as well !  I have also seen a custom fitting on some 12's that 'rides' on the static 'mast line (The guide for the pole up the mast) Could this be the 'Clive Hook' fitting mentioned ? ... and where can we get a sample ?

If you don't use a dangly this will all sound most bizarre / exotic ...   (Don't worry it was to us a couple of years back!)

Our current simple version is great already imho but we are always open to new ideas at least for this limited area of Icon.   So if you have any you think are worth considering get in touch direct, always happy to look.

Mike L.  (Cirrus )