Thanks Brendan and Patrick!

:: Hoisting / dousing out of the front hatch is the way to
:: go. We always got twists when hoisting out of the main
:: hatch and there's a bigger chance of tearing kite on
:: spreaders, etc.
::
:: We tie the sheets & halyard to the kite at the beginning
:: of the day (no shackles on the kite, including the
:: halyard--they catch on the headstay) and never untie it.
:: Take down on the side you want to hoist on (generally a
:: weather douse). Weather douse is easy on an e27--one
:: person strips the pole, another pulls the kite down into
:: the hatch. If we get it on the wrong side, we'll just
:: 'dingy-hoist'--drive super deep, get the thing in the
:: air, and then hook up the pole.
::
:: We have a bag that fits in the front hatch, so the kite
:: isn't loose in the interior. If you don't have a bag,
:: make sure that all screw heads, sharp corners, etc down
:: below are well taped up.
::
:: 1) Always hoist / douse under the foot of the jib.
:: Behind the jib leads to all kinds of problems, including
:: getting the kite sucked into the jib fairleads. The jib
:: must be eased before you can hoist. When dousing, the
:: foredeck has to be careful to get the jib sheets on the
:: correct side of hatch.
::
:: 2) We have small stainless snap shackles on the deck
:: near the bow pulpit we clip the halyard to. They have
:: remote pulls led to the weather side. In a pinch,
:: electrical tape (to the bow pulpit) works fine--just
:: break it when time to hoist.
::
:: 3) We go pole-up first when possible, "dingy style" for
:: gybe sets and occassionally when there is no time to get
:: the pole up before rounding (and as mentioned above, if
:: the kite is on the wrong side).
::
:: 4) ALWAYS close the hatch immediately. I have seen
:: serious injuries from people falling down open hatches.
:: Foredeck person watches / helps the kite leave the
:: hatch, then _imediately_ closes the hatch. _then_ they
:: can help with any tangles, problems, jib douse, etc.
:: Trying to solve problems on any foredeck with the hatch
:: open is very dangerous.
::
:: Also, wait as long as possible before opening the hatch.
:: It's almost the last thing we do before dousing.
::
:: Finally: train your bow team to be nice to your front
:: hatch. That means not slamming it open, not stepping on
:: it when it is open, and moving the sheets and halyards
:: away from the hinges before shutting it. A little extra
:: care here won't hurt your results and it will save you
:: time & money!
::
:: 5) We always use hanks. We've never torn a kite on them.
:: We have, however, caught tapered sheets & halyards in
:: them before. Make sure your hanks all work well so they
:: shut right and don't stick part way open. New hanks are
:: cheap and easy to install--carry spares!
::
:: Once you get the front hatch thing figured out, you
:: won't go back to turtles or main hatch hoisting. It
:: really does work well.
::

:: --brendan

::
::
::
::
::
::
:: :: Hi all,
:: ::
:: :: I just switched my spinnaker launching system to a
:: :: forward hatch arrangement. We used it for the first time
:: :: on Sunday and I have a few questions:
:: ::
:: :: 1) Do you lead your sheets and halyard so that it would
:: :: launch under the foot of a jib or around the jib's
:: :: leech? We did windward sets but that's the best way to
:: :: describe the how the sheets and halyard are led while
:: :: the chute is in the launch bag. Leading it under the
:: :: foot seemed to make the most sense, especially when
:: :: using a Genoa because we ended up taking it down on the
:: :: starboard side while the Genoa was up and reaching the
:: :: chute from behind the leech of the Genoa seemed too
:: :: difficult.
:: ::
:: :: 2) Where do you clip the spinnaker halyard to keep it
:: :: out of the way and what do you use to clip it? I got a
:: :: SOAK clip and noticed that the Genoa constantly
:: :: unclipped the halyard from the toe rail while tacking.
:: :: It didn't seem to create too bad a problem but it was a
:: :: nuisance.
:: ::
:: :: 3) Do you put the pole up before launching the spinnaker
:: :: or do you do it "dinghy style"- bear away hard, raise
:: :: it, then fly it like a kite for a few seconds while your
:: :: foredeck crew puts the pole up.
:: ::
:: :: 4) How soon does your foredeck close the hatch after
:: :: launch? We had a problem during one set and it was fun
:: :: to dance around that gaping hole in the deck while
:: :: getting the kite flying.
:: ::
:: :: 5) How critical is it to use a headstay foil for your
:: :: headsails? I haven't retrofitted it yet and I'm worried
:: :: about the spinnaker tearing on those hanks...
:: ::
:: :: thanks
:: ::
:: :: Bryan