RE: P19 Spinnaker

Rye Gewalt (ryeg@vais.net)
Sun, 06 Dec 1998 06:18:55 -0500


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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I haven't had a spinnaker on a P19 yet, but had a Cruising
Spinnaker on my old 17' Siren and it was more fun that a
barrel of monkeys. My experience with conventional
spinnakers is that they are kind of fussy to rig and sail --
while the cruising spinnaker was quite easily single handed
since no pole is required.

It seems to me (an I ain't no expert) that the cruising
spinnaker is a bit like a cross between a drifter (big light
jenny) and a more traditional spinnaker. The tack is
adjustable via a line that is led back to the cockpit and
can be used, in conjunction with the sheets, to "fly" the
sail like a spinnaker or to tighten it down and use it like
a jenny/drifter.

I really liked the ability to do single handed sailing with
it. I don't know if it is a seriously efficient kind of
sail, but it certainly was fun, and interesting, to play
with in the true Potter tradition. Here on the Potomac
where the wind is changing frequently, it seemed to be a
very adaptable sail and worth the investment.

Plus, since it's a colorful sail, I always enjoyed adding to
the scenery As sailboaters we have to consider our
contribution to the esthetics of the general outdoor
environment.

Rye Gewalt
Springfield VA

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I haven't had a spinnaker on a P19 yet, but had a Cruising Spinnaker on my old 17' Siren and it was more fun that a barrel of monkeys.  My experience with conventional spinnakers is that they are kind of fussy to rig and sail -- while the cruising spinnaker was quite easily single handed since no pole is required.

It seems to me (an I ain't no expert) that the cruising spinnaker is a bit like a cross between a drifter (big light jenny) and a more traditional spinnaker.  The tack is adjustable via a line that is led back to the cockpit and can be used, in conjunction with the sheets, to "fly" the sail like a spinnaker or to tighten it down and use it like a jenny/drifter.

I really liked the ability to do single handed sailing with it.  I don't know if it is a seriously efficient kind of sail, but it certainly was fun, and interesting, to play with in the true Potter tradition.  Here on the Potomac where the wind is changing frequently, it seemed to be a very adaptable sail and worth the investment.

Plus, since it's a colorful sail, I always enjoyed adding to the scenery   As sailboaters we have to consider our contribution to the esthetics of the general outdoor environment.

Rye Gewalt
Springfield VA --------------4E7F00C6615A5A351111AC6D--