Light-air Spinnaker Version 1

I specifically call it a light-air spinnaker because I did not concern myself too much with the robustness of the rigging as I put it together. Most of the time I need/want a spinnaker is because there is just not enough wind (or none at all) in the dead of summer - the Windrider 17 is fine for me with just the main and jib if the wind is 10 knots or better. Besides, the sail is a leftover from my WR16 - it is a bit undersized anyway.

(scroll down for more pictures - click the photos for large version!)

My wife made the sail for my old Windrider 16 from a kit from Sailrite. The whole process was very easy, and it went together without a hitch. The kit they send has everything from seam tape to the leather patches for the corners.   Here is a drawing of the arrangement I used for the tack of the sail. I used this arrangement on a big catamaran I used to have and it worked out really well. The reason for this arrangement is shown in the "sail-up" pictures below. I am sorry for the small drawing not being readable at the left, but if you click on it, you will see it very clear. Here is a shot of the new mast hound and block I used for the haylyard.I put it about 12 inches above the jib hound. Basically, this was only because of the small size of the sail I already had. I probably would have made a bigger sail (and possibly put it higher on the mast) if I was starting from scratch. I put a nylon cleat down near the gooseneck to cleat off the halyard. This is a fairlead on each ama forward for the tack control line. The line runs under the tube from the bow block.I drilled and tapped the top plate for #8 screws and used stainless machine screws for the install.     Here are three shots of the tack and sheet lines as they "arrive" back at the cockpit. Again, I drilled and tapped the ama plate for #8 stainless machine screws to mount the blocks. The small cleat and cam are thru-bolted into the hull at the cockpit coaming. Here are three shots that attempt to show what the advantages are to having the tack of the sail able to be pulled to either side as opposed to being fixed at the bow. The wind wasn't cooperating too well, so you'll have to use your imagination a little. And, finally, here is the sail at the mast ready to deploy: (she's the "daddy" with that sewing machine!)

Home
Projects
Photos
Logs