After doing some searching on the web I have found very little
data on Spi Pole Length. The Tornado class rules state for that
boat the length is 13.2ft.

If you know....how long for:
Tor: 4000mm per Class Rules
F18:
N20:
I20:

for the Formula 18 the pole can extend no further than 800 mm in front of the bow. There is a little more to how to get the number but that is the rule. What are you trying to accomplish this seems like a broad question?

Later,
Dan

I run a P19.I've discovered that I made my pole a little short.

At 11.5ft (3500mm) overall, 1.5ft (450mm) in front of the
bows, I cannot get full performance or control from the spi.

I was looking to see what pole lengths compatible boats are
running so I can emulate them.

The Tornado pole is 13.125ft (4000mm). This is what clued me
in to my....ahem....shortness.

So if the F18 pole can be no longer than 800mm from the bows,
what is the distance between the FWD cross beam and the bows
on an F18?

WHICH F18???????

Highly variable from manufacturer to manufacturer. The Capricorn pole is about 11-feet, 11-inches to meet the class rule. The C2 pole will be longer since the front beam is further aft - I'd guess 12-feet 3-inches, but don't know for sure.

I had an old used pole on my mystere 5.5. the pole was 12'6"
I ran an f18 spin at first. It seemed fine (granted i had nothing to judge it against)

I moved up to a Tornado spin and 13.2 pole and it works perfectly for me

Now see?! Here and I thought the Formula18 had a set, specific
guide for hull/attachments no matter who made it.

Just learn how much more I don't know every day

Nope, that would be the F16 class.

On these 16 footers (or really 5.00 mtr. = 16.4 feet) the poles must be 3500 or shorter; irrespectly of the where the mainbeam or bows are.

Wouter

It would help if we knew what chute you're running.

Current chute is a cut down Smythe sail from the mid 90's.
It started out as 32m2... I have since had Randy cut it down
to approx. 26.5m2. I'm told its the same approximate shape
as the N20 chute.

The real issue you have is not the pole length but the distance from the tack to the clew. You also need to make sure you have enough to pull the leech tight enough. If you know how high the clew is off the deck when fully hoisted and you determined where you want the spin sheet line lead you could extrapolate the length of the pole.

Here is what you could do:
Hoist the chute in zero wind.
Give the clue to your buddy.
Determine where you would like to place the block for the sheet to the deck and hold your sheet line there.
Have the clew moved forward and back until the sheet line angle is 45 degrees (equal pulling back and down) to the sheeting point.
Measure distance from front crossbar to the tack point.
Keep in mind that the spinnaker pole should have a fair amount of prebend so you do not break it.

Will this work for you?
Dan DeLave

I had a 15'4" pole on my P19, with a mid-90s Nacra 6.O kite that was NOT cut down, leaving it at roughly 346 sq ft. It worked great if you wanted to sail deep, but forget reaching!

This looks like a very good idea/procedure, thanks Dave, will try.



Thats exactly what I found even with the short pole. That huge arsed Spi just wouldn't reach.

ButchG
Climbing the Learning Curve