Controlling the jib downwind
Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 341 / 342
Forum Description: 341 / 342 Hints and Tims
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10476
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 03:41
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Controlling the jib downwind
Posted By: Martin&Rene
Subject: Controlling the jib downwind
Date Posted: 06 October 2017 at 12:18
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Magicol on the 345 forum had requested assistance on using the jib downwind. As I said I would post some photos, I have put them here as this shows what I do on a 341. I have a barber hauler system set up on the toe rail so that I can control the twist on the jib downwind by connecting the barber hauler to the jib sheet using a snatch (opening) pulley block.    (The black rope is the tack rope for the cruising chute and its rear block is positioned so that I can control the line on the starboard cabin top winch, ie the jib winch) I do use a whisker pole on my Hanse 341 to boom out the jib on a dead run.  I use a lightweight dinghy spinnaker pole around about 2.5m long (ex Fireball dinghy?) with spinnaker pole hook fittings on both ends and attach it to the normal spinnaker pole fitting on the mast. I have rigged up a 10mm rope through the spinnaker uphaul pulley in the mast and attach it to the outer end of the spinnaker pole with a small snaplink. As the load to keep the pole up is very small on this rope I just secure it in a cam cleat mounted on the mast about 0.5m above the deck. But on a dead run, I fasten a loop from the windward barber hauler outside the guard rails and over the end of the spinnaker pole and when it is pulled tight it acts in effect as a downhaul/fore-guy/aft-guy and so the spinnaker pole is now fairly fixed in one position.  I then fasten an extra lightwight jib sheet to the clew of the jib with a snaplink, lead it through the outer end of the spinnaker pole and then back to a winch on the cockpit coaming. In my case, I can run it through a genoa sheet fairlead, but you could also run it through a small block fastened to the windward aft mooring cleat.  (The bit of elastic is just to fasten the spinnaker pole when not in use) I find this set up works well with in light to medium winds with the apparent wind at 160-180 deg and it is quite stable, balances the boat well and you get used to working out whether you need to luff up or bear away if the jib starts to collapse. Setting up a boom preventer may sometimes be a good idea, if you are running dead downwind for a long time. You can see this on the first of the goosewinged photos, as I have preventer lines permenantly rigged on the boom, held up by shockcord, and all I have done is connected the leeward preventer to the leeward barber hauler line using a snaplink. Really this way is very similar to how the instructors would teach normal goosewing technique, as you can easily let the extra sheet loose and luff up or even gybe if you need to to avoid a collision without needing to remover the spinnaker (whisker) pole. If it is windy we may just run with just the main, but last week I was pleased to find that with just the jib up and controlled with a barber hauler, we were doing over 5kts in a 20kt wind. You will see a cam cleat mounted on the port side of the mast as well, as this allows me to control the dropping of the cruising chute sock neatly into its bag. ------------- Martin&Rene Hanse 341 Dipper Wheel steering, 3 cabin layout, normally based in Scotland |
Replies:
Posted By: Magicol
Date Posted: 06 October 2017 at 23:30
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Thank you Martin & Rene. These photographs are really helpful. I am impressed with your barber hauler system; very effective. I don't have a metal toe rail on the 345 but I will look to fit a couple of pad eyes to do the same job. I am sure that you get much more effective drive from your jib off the wind than we are currently getting. Similarly, I can now see how you fit and control a whisker pole. Again, I think we have the potential to easily fit the component parts of your system. These are two jobs added to the close season list! I appreciate all the time and trouble you have taken to provide this advice. Thank you. ------------- Hanse 345 #237 based on the Clyde |
Posted By: Martin&Rene
Date Posted: 01 August 2023 at 10:14
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Having just recommended this post to another Hanse member, I thought I would check it out to see that it describes what I do nowadays. In fact I have added another technique. I do not always sail with the dinghy inflated on the foredeck, sometimes it is folded and stowed on the cabin roof. If I am then running down wind on broad reaches and know that I will be doing a couple of gybes, then I will connect the snatch block to both barber hauler lines. So initially, I will have the leeward barber hauler tight and the windward one slack. When it comes to time to gybe, I will ease the leeward barber hauler line, bear off more on to a run and tighten the windward barber hauler line so that the jib is pulled over and sets goose-winged on the opposite side to the main. Then I will gybe the main. As well as eliminating having to go forward to switch the barber haulers over, this seems to make the gybe smoother. The fact that the jib is pulling all the time keeps the boat speed up and hence the apparent wind speed down and the boat seems in better balance throughout the gybe. ------------- Martin&Rene Hanse 341 Dipper Wheel steering, 3 cabin layout, normally based in Scotland |