Use of Chute Scoop for Spinnaker

[gmbiery]

This is what I think of when I hear “chute scoop”:

http://www.chutescoop.com/

It’s a bag that rides on the spinnaker. U pull it (with the kite inside) up with the halyard and then u pull another cord which pulls the scoop up to the top of the kite. Now the kite can fly. When you’re done or want to gybe, you can pull down on the scoop to snuff the kite and then drop the kite or gybe the pole and open again.

I have one floating around that I used on a 30’ boat sailing singlehanded. It does take away some nerves because you can always sniff the kite when you get scared. It is more complicated, though, as you’ve got to run the up and down control strings and you’ll have all the weight of the scoop up at the masthead when it’s “fueled.”

If y’all are stressed about flying the kite, just go out when it’s chill and go through your maneuvers. After you do that a bunch, you’ll see that it’s gets less stressful.

BTW, I really dig the 5-oh style launch bag up above. Tres chic!

[cklamp]

One boat in our Calgary fleet set up a launcher on the deck...basically a sausage bag. Not wanting others to feel that was cheating, he stopped using it. But it did work.

Perhaps we should ask the Class Measurer for a ruling on a scoop or other whatever method.

We talked about this in Fleet 1 before quite a bit. As I recall there's no real issues with those sausage bag like devices, but with Robs (Hi Rob!) setup I think much of the concern was around safety due to the possibility of water going up, over the bow, and into the front deck.

I wasn't around at the time of those Kansas NA's he mentions, but I've sailed with Rob at NOODs, very fast and very knowledgeable sailor!

Later
C

[Rob]

Sorry in taking over a year to reply .... been down in the bunker!

Yes ... I created a foam and bondo mold that I glassed over .... removed the mold.... then faired and painted the scoop.