Spinnaker pole uphaul

Originally posted by womble12345 I think replacing and thickening the elastic would just make it harder for the crew to get the pole onto the mast so I dont think that is a good solution. Thanks, I will tell him to just put up and shut up moaning.

You can build into your hoist+drop/gybing routing, for the helm to just drop the pole height a couple of inches to make it a bit easier, and then pull it on again when necessary.......

On a Fifteen we have similar issues, but with bigger kite loads. The system I have found to work really well is as follows:

1. Downhaul fixed to pole, passes through an eye in the deck with a stopper knot just below, adjusted so that it comes taut at the highest pole height ever needed.
2. Under the deck a 2m length of elastic tensions the end of the downhaul along under the foredeck, so it gives a moderate but consistent downward loading.
3. Uphaul is led back to the centre of the boat where either helm or crew can reach it. This has a stopper knot limiting how low it can go, which just and so allows the pole to be put back on the boom with it released.

This works well, the only downsides being that you have to set and release the pole height as part of your hoist & drop respectively; and you can't leave the height preset. You can solve both these issues by having the up & downhaul on a hook or ring that you detach when you store the pole, but that adds a different task to the procedure. It's personal preference really - one option needs better teamwork, the other gives the crew more to do.

But either way, the elastic downhaul with a positive limit seems to work really well when the kite is up. The pole can't sky uncontrollably, and usually we find when reaching the problem is how to raise the pole, rather than how to stop it skying!

If you are good at geometry you can work out where the top achorage should be so that the pole lies exactly along the boom and yet is at the optimum height when deployed.  Use elastic to hold the pole up and rope to hold it down.  The last thing you want is the pole going skyward in the gusts so don't use elastic to hold it down.  As you probaly know the hooks should always point upwards as its easier to release the pole that way since the pole generally inclines upward in a strong breeze.  I'd suggest velcro on the pole and the boom so that the pole doesn't rattle about when stowed.

With a smple cleat for the rope downhaul you have a light and uncomplicated arrangement with minimum windage and weight.