Forums, Mast, Rigging and Sails, Poling out the genoa/ gybe preventers

david.barrow at 06/11/2013 14:13:58
I am contemplating doing a longer offshore passage next season and having recently sailed in a boat where we polled out the genoa for lengthy periods I was very impressed by how effective it was.

i am interested in what is used in the Contessa, the spinnaker pole or a short whisker pole?

Also do most rig a gybe preventer from the boom end or mid boom? there seems to be differing views as to what works best

I would greatly value any thoughts and advice.

David Barrow

moongirl at 07/11/2013 20:58:02
David
When we chicken out downwind we pole out the Genoa using the spinny pole – works just fine.
Not sure about the preventer as we race most of the time & rely on the helm not to gybe!

doug at 08/11/2013 10:03:33
I often pole out the genoa in cruising mode, using the spinnaker pole. I just clip it on and then adjust the roller sail to suit. A longer (telescopic, carbon?) pole would help but it is probably not worth the expense. As you are no doubt aware, it is possible to furl the sail without going forward so it is great when singlehanding.

I have port and starboard jibe preventers ready for use, taken to light blocks on the foredeck. These fix to a strop, a few feet from the end of the boom. Seems to work ok.
Edited: doug on 2013-11-08 10:05:41

david.barrow at 08/11/2013 14:00:55
Thanks for the help and advice on both topics.
David

Richard Ritchie at 20/11/2013 11:20:01
Several of us have preventer ropes rigged permanently from turning blocks outside cockpit coaming with a small block at the shroud base back to a carabineer to clip to the boom end. When out of use the carabineer is clipped to teh top guard rail.

This is then always to hand.

Alan Dixon at 20/11/2013 12:29:55
I use a similar system of preventing from the boom end to a turning block at the shroud base. On long trips I rig a second Lazy preventer to allow a gybe without venturing on deck to re reeve the preventer line. Charlotte has a dedicated Whisker pole which is a little longer than the spinnaker pole, I would have to measure it and report back if that helps.

Mark Hillmann at 30/11/2013 20:26:57
We often pole a staysail to windward as it sets closer than the genoa which then fills well behind the main.
If we drop the main we use the boom to pole out the genoa: The reef outhaul line is clipped to the genoa sheet. Dropping the spinnaker pole after the wind gets up can be fun, the boom is more safely controlled and the genoa easily rolled away.

Galatea at 01/12/2013 02:56:07
We use a boom brake (Wichard Gyb’easy) with the whisker pole. I suppose in very strong wind a preventer led to the boom end might be better. Then again, I don’t plan on having the whisker pole up in those conditions.

Galatea at 01/12/2013 03:11:48
See more about the use of a boom brake here

david.barrow at 03/12/2013 13:06:44
Many thanks for all the input, help and advice I have been away working on the boat so have just picked up all the comments

David, Spirit of Amport