Actually you want the luff to be softer in order to sail higher (i.e. reaching)...
I agree with you Jake - this is what I do when reaching with the chute in distance races. Seems to work well.
There will be about 10-14 inches of "pigtail" as you call it. This pigtail length will vary depending on how much tension you put on the spin luff and where you position the "plastic stopper ball"
This is how I set up the boat originally - tight stock bridle lines and some pre-bend in the pole, tack of the spin at the end of the pole and enough length on the 'pigtail' to get appropriate luff tension.
My question is - why not raise up the pole and eliminate the pigtail? - you can still keep the same luff tension this way. I have cut off the stock bridles and replaced them with vectran line which gives flexibility to adjust pole height.
It seems to me this pigtail lets the head of the spinnaker move around vs being able to hoist the spin right up close to the pulley on the mast.
I guess the pigtail lets you lower the pole which will generate less upward lift on the spinnaker and more forward drive?
I know the I20 guys position their halyard stopper balls to set the luff tension on their kites so they can grab the luff with their fist and rotate 90 degrees
That's also how I have set up my Tiger - but our local Tiger hotshot runs his tighter - only around 45° degrees of twist. There must be an 'optimum' luff tension that changes depending on wind speed and if you are bouy racing or reaching. Looser for higher reaching seems to stop the leading edge of the kite collapsing.
Chris.
