Who flys a symmetrical spinnaker single handed?

[matt195583]

I have a symmetrical spinnaker and would love to make use of it but the thing is MASSIVE and kind of scares me  ??? does anyone here fly on single handed if so any insight would be great. I have watched plenty of youtube vids and the like but most people seem to use socks and other fancy stuff.

[Auspicious]

Used to fly the chute single-handed on LB, my Catalina Capri 22. I continue to fly the chute single-handed on Auspicious (40', 22,000#).

Note - I raced foredeck for 30 years.

Thoughts
- the main is your friend and can be used to blanket the chute.
- on smaller boats you are better served doing a take-down under the boom or in the slot than with a sock. If your weight moves the boat do a cockpit take-down of some kind.
- get everything ready ahead of time. Think every step through before hand.
- get a racer aboard and feed him beer to back you up in the beginning.
- start in light air and work your way up.
- make sure you can't accidentally run the halyard.
- don't put knots in the spinnaker sheets
- use twings on the guy if your sheets are used as guys.

If you're near Annapolis I'll sail with you.

[gregorygraham]

Those are helpful points from Auspicious, but I hear you, symmetrical spinnakers are stressful.  I only got my symmetrical up about three or four times this past season before, in stressful circumstances as the wind was rising, my halyard slipped through my mast head block.  Note to self, put a figure eight knot in the end of the halyard.  Looking forward to trying my new asymmetrical this season.

[matt195583]

Auspicious I'd love to take you up on that offer but I am on the east coast of Australia  :-\ I will have to try the beer currency for some local spinnaker training. I guess I will have to just have a crack at it and get it up........................... It would be great to get that light air sailing ability though.