Thanks Phil, I don't know about leaving stays connected to the mast, it's not something I like to do. My main hassle so far has been sorting the retrieval through the spi and attaching the tackline, halyard and sheet without a twist. I think I could leave the retrieval line (halyard) attached to the spi and leave it all in the sock. That'd make it a lot easier.

I flipped the boat again on the jibe mark yesty. 22 knotts, traveller down about 300mm, sheet cracked but firm, spi stowed. I bore away, waited, then pulled the sail across, got myself to the new windward side just in time to be tossed off the tramp as the boat rolled over. Bloody frustrating. I'm now thinking I'm probably turning through too larger an angle and I'm actually around to a beam reach before I'm set. I think I need to steer down after the sail pops. On a mid downwind jibe, this would give me time to set the kite and then harden up. Sound reasonable? Either that or leave the boat on the beach when it's over 15k untill I'm sorted. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Bern,
Basically in high winds your better off keeping the angle small and stalling the main until the kite is set.
Go through too great an angle and the main not tight enough and your gone.
This is just what I've found.
Regards,
Phill

It's sometimes hard to stall the top of a big top main though. One of their advantages is they allow more twist and are generally more powerful high, and this also makes them more difficult to control off the wind. Not a problem in lighter winds but it would seem that as the wind strength increases and the sheet is cracked, the top twists off and powers up as you bear away driving the lee bow in.
I think that dropping the traveller and leaving the sheet on hard might be the answer in that it would tend to control the twist more. That is if the traveller can operated under the load which is doubtful.

On another note, does anyone jibe their kite on a cat? I mean as opposed to tacking it?

Be careful dropping the traveler, even with the main sheeted tight you might lose needed support for running the spinnaker.

I think you have that back to front Berny, we always jibe the kite downwind (although we have tacked the kite when sailing very high with it in very light conditions) and dropping the traveller IS more stable than dropping the mainsheet when the kite is up. And the size of the kite and its take off point on the mast, means that you still have a lot of support when dropping either the main or the traveller when the kite is set on your cat.

This can only be an issue if your mast rotation limiter is still on. If the mast is much rotated then dumping the maintraveller is (in my opinion) not a problem in any wind.

Wouter

I'm not sure I understand how the traveller position effects the spi support. Sheet yes but traveller?
I have discovered that mainsheet tension seriously effects spi luff tension. I also found out yesterday that it's better to get the kite across and set before tacking (popping) the main in light airs.

Darryl, I think you may have mistaken my meaning. When I asked about jibing the kite I didn't mean tacking or jibing the boat. I note in the pics you sent me that your spi sheets run behind (aft of) the halyard which indicates that you tack and not jibe the kite on the AO.

absolutely correct Berny - jibe the boat - tack the kite, I had never thought of it as that way, if the kite was jibed, there would be one hell of a mess of spinnaker sheet lines!!!

Light mylar or pentex cloth. Works fine for me ! Appears to be exactly the same as your mainsail cloth but is just a more lightweight version of it.

Leave the bag open at the back with only a single strap with eye to guide the retrieval line and prevent the spi from being pulled out.

Wouter

I just use a knot to limit the travel of the tackline through the pole end block to stop the spi being pulled out.

Bern,
Don't crack the sheet. Pull it on.
Only when the kite is set and the boat up to speed do you easy the sheet a little to get the main out of its stalled situation.
If you are concerned about the big head not being stalled pull the sheet on real hard just before you jibe but make sure you go through a very small angle. Just enough for the jibe.


Regards,
Phill

Yes, that sounds like the best way to do it. I'm still in a bit of a headspin at the moment till I get more time on the water.
I have realised that the boat wants to round up with no pressure in the kite so it's essential to get it set quickly. I also need to pay more attention to the telltails so I know exactly where I am going through the jibe. All pretty obvious stuff but in the heat of the moment, logic sometimes goes out the window. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

On another note, it took me two hours + to rig on Sunday. I know it will get easier as I work out the best proceedure, but!
I'm looking at simplifying the whole setup, maybe using more toggle pins, possibly a cordless screwdriver for the shackles etc.

It takes us about 3/4 of an hour to rig the Alpha Berny, but that's 10 minutes to rig and the rest of the time is usually "sociallising" with the other guys while rigging.

"us"? 10 minutes! How many of you are involved in the AO rigging process?
I have to do it on my own, but then I'm a slow rigger anyway. It generally takes me an hour or more to cat rig 430. I like to do things right without forgetting stuff or breaking anything. I seldom have problems on the water though and that's how I like it. I find that if I start talking before I'm finished, the time flys and then I'm rushing to get it done which makes me late on the water, and I hate that, especially at an unfamiliar venue.

That "us" is like the royal "we" Berny, meaning in reality just the one person. Don't worry, when the rigging with spinnaker becomes "automatic" and you don't have to stop and "work it all out" every time that you go sailing, I am sure that the time will come down dramatically. Like most things, the more familiar you are, the easier it becomes, (except for old "farts" like me)

mate, I'm not as young as I used to be, and I wasn't young then. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Here;
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=4287241557

Ain't it the truth Berny, although the older we get "the better we were"

Hi guys, do you think it would be possible to put a Dart 16 or 18 gennaker on a H14 Turbo.
Thanks

It depends on whether the mast is tall enough and of course, how much of a thrillseaker you are. You may be able to put one on the boat but sailing it in any sort of breeze would probably be out of the question.