Submitted on March 18, 2002 by Jim Lindsay

Question: Hi there. I've just purchased and received a new G-3 for my '78 Hunter 27'. I do 99% of my sailing solo, so I have a couple of questions.

First, has someone come up with an adjustable downhaul for the Tack (I have a 0 Harkins furlowing uniy). I'm assuming there are a number of sailors out there who have invented the wheel already and I want to save time.

Second, can you offer an expedient routine for the set up and take down of the G-3 while solo. The instructions given with the sail suggested great methods while sailing with one or more crew. I have two crew members usually, 'Auto' as in Autohelm 800 and 'Lori' as in Loran (although if the wind is off the quartre and there is wave action, 'Auto' isn't all that dependable).

Answer: Hi Jim, I am not sure what sail your first question refers to.

For the G-3 gennaker, we recommend that you use a tack line that attaches to the tack of the sail, runs through a snatch block attached as far forward as possible (to the anchor roller or a deck padeye), and then aft to a sheet stopper and winch. With this setup you can adjust the tack height of the G-3 in any wind condition using the winch. Once you determine the correct height of the tack above the deck, you should make a mark on your tack line where it enters the stopper. Using this mark you can preset the line before hoisting the spinnaker.

It is easiest to use the G-3 with a snuffer, especially if you are sailing shorthanded. For your singlehanded sailing days, you should add a cleat to the mast for the spinnaker halyard. This cleat will be used for hoisting and dousing when the sail is still in the snuffer. It allows you to raise the sail from a position on the foredeck so you can deal with any tangles directly.

Following is the routine to set the G-3 singlehanded:

1) Pack the spinnaker in the deck bag (ask your North Salesman for a copy of the Gennaker Packing Instructions)

2) Clip the spinnaker bag in the center of the foredeck and attach the tack line, spinnaker sheets and halyard to the corners of the sail.

3) Pull the tack line to the preset mark and cleat it. Set the autopilot for an apparent wind angle of about 140 degrees.

4) Standing at the mast, hoist the spinnaker out of the bag and cleat the halyard in the mast cleat.

5) If the halyard is normally run to the cockpit, pull the slack out of the halyard tail and make it off in its normal stopper or cleat.

6) Put the spin sheet on a winch and tension it until the snuffer cone starts to ride up the leech of the sail. Cleat the sheet.

7) Walk forward to a spot in the center of the foredeck and raise the snuffer.

8) Pull both legs of the snuffer control line tight and cleat them together to a dock line cleat on the foredeck.

To douse the spinnaker:

1) Set the autopilot to about 140 degrees apparent.

2) Ease the sheet until the luff curls about 3 or 4 feet, but not so far that the sail collapses.

3) Uncleat the snuffer control lines, sit down on the foredeck and pull the snuffer down.

4) Cleat the control lines on the dock cleat again to keep the sail from blowing to leeward.

5) Cleat the spinnaker halyard in the mast cleat.

6) Release the tack line and the primary spinnaker halyard stopper (if halyard is led aft)

7) From the mast area, uncleat the halyard and ease it out while guiding the sail into the foredeck hatch.

This proceedure is easy in light and moderate winds, and with some practice, it is manageable in stronger winds. The limiting factor is really your autopilot. On a small boat like your Hunter 27, even your weight on the foredeck will change the way the boat steers. The best advice is to try these techniques on a day when there is about 10 knots of breeze. Then pay close attension to how well your pilot handles the boat with the higher loads of the gennaker and how much breeze the pilot can handle. If the pilot can't steer the boat in a straight line due to the wind strength or wave size, you will have a greater risk of wrapping the sail during the dousing proceedure in particular.

Sailing with gennakers while singlehanded is a rewarding experience. Practice in light air and enjoy the learning process.

Regards,
Dan Neri

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