File - Canadian Wayfarer Association

Usually it is only necessary to adjust the uphaul part as the elastic below takes up any slack when
the uphaul is eased off and the pole lowered. Then the downward pull of the sheets keeps the
pole from skying. When reaching, you can re-tension the uphaul, stretching the elastic to its
knot, and raising the pole to its reaching position.
The spinnaker halliard should be led back to the helmsman on the starboard side, to a block and
cleat near the back of the centreboard case. (see diagram 6.)
Care should be taken to get the correct positioning as the helmsman will have to hoist whilst
steering with the tiller between his legs. With the mainsheet cleated, and yards of halliard to
pull, he will have more than enough to deal with. It is also important to get the positioning of the
turning blocks right. The sheets from the spinnaker should lead aft to through deck blocks (such
as HA 4701), mounted just forward of the aft bulkhead. They should then be led forward under
the side decks to the thwart.
At the thwart, two systems can be used:
• A turning block such as HA 4978 can be fitted underneath the thwart. After running
through this, the sheet can emerge up through a deck sheave such as HA 4910. This should
be located about 40 à 50 cm (16-20”) from the side of the hull. Cleats should be positioned
either at the side or on blocks at each end.
• If the sheet is to be kept above the thwart, the turning block should be mounted level with
the inside face of the side deck. Jam cleats can then be mounted on this vertical inside face
of the side deck, and on blocks on the thwart on the other side of the turning block (see
diagram 7)
The windward sheet will need controlling on the side deck near the shroud. The simplest system
is to use RWO clamcleats such as 217Mk1 and 218Mk1. Alternatively, a barberhauler system can
be used. With the barberhauler system, the sheet runs through a block which is attached to a
line running down to a deck eye and cleat, and which is continuous to the other side. The
particular advantage of this system is that it can be pulled on quickly by either helm or crew.
Also, in very strong winds, both sides can be partially tensioned to damp down the spinnaker. It
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