Spin pole setup

By Pete Kassal on Thursday, September 2, 1999 - 11:00 am:

I have been foredeck on several J/24 teams, and have used both tapered and non-tapered poles. I agree you definitely should use bridles on non-tapered poles. I prefer tapered poles without bridles, but they're more expensive.

We only use the downhaul (foreguy) rarely, when it is very bouncy (lots of chop) to keep the pole stable and the chute full. Otherwise it's twings only.

Good luck,
Pete Kassal

By Pete Ramsdale on Tuesday, August 31, 1999 - 11:44 am:

Tom,
We use a non-tapered pole with bridles - however we replaced the wire bridles with 3/16" Vectran line (no stretch) which is rigged very very taut. The advantage is that the bridle ring is kept close to the pole (less to tangle) yet the pole remains in one piece in heavy air. The vectran line has held up well with these loads to 30 knots. Taping the bridle down with duct tape is a common trick - your foredeck crew needs to remove/cut it for heavier air before you lose the pole!

By Doug on Tuesday, August 31, 1999 - 10:55 am:

Agree with Chris, if it isn't a tapered pole I believe you're asking for trouble not using the bridles. The big advantage I've seen on our new boat with this system is pre-setting the topping lift then leaving it clipped to the ring, we also leave the downhaul clipped (loosely) to the topping lift. Then when you put up the pole you clip on and get it out. It is very tidy. I may have missed something, I've only observed as I'm not allowed out up by the mast...

By Chris Morlan on Monday, August 30, 1999 - 11:19 pm:

If you have a standard (non-tapered) pole, this method can lead to pole failure curing heavy air reaching. You should either use the bridle or buy a tapered pole. The benefit is no bridles to tangle and snag.

By Thomas Pittard on Sunday, August 29, 1999 - 07:51 pm:

I am beginning the transition into J/24 sailing.

Our boat has the spin pole set up with the bridle taped up and the lifting ring fixed to the pole. There is no downhaul, as the twings take over this function.

I understand that this is probably a J/24 "trick", but would love to know the benefit of this method. I was suprised to see the pole flex under some moderate loading, and would be unable to fly the spinnaker in 10-15+ kts.

Is it a standard practice to have two spin poles for light and heavy air?

Thanks for any help and advice.

Thomas Pittard
#266 "Perry Gooch & The Goochmen"