Out-grabbers
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I know this will be a weird question, but here goes- does anyone have experience using an out-grabber to stabilize the kite in heavy air? I’m sure some of you guys may have heard about it somewhere, but I’m finding very little detail in most of the sailing forums(i?)- like sailinganarchy and the single-handed sailing society. At this point, I think it’s experimental, but it would be nice to have something that’s easy to rig that can tame downwind oscillations when the usual methods are somewhat exhausted (and there are waves coming from different directions like we see around here along the coast quite often in springtime). One main question I was wondering about is what to do with twings… I’m guessing you don’t rig them?? That seems doubly strange in heavy air.
Any ideas or experiences other than rigging an out-grabber?
Ray
Translation? Outgrabber meaning like an outboard strut? Not legal in many handicap systems.
We use twings. Set just aft of the chainplates on the toe rail. If it gets wild, best to head up a few degrees to tame the spinnaker. You will go faster. If not possible, lower the pole a bit and pull on the leeward twing some to square the chute. (depowers)
AND remember…low side eases!!! If you are oscillating to leeward, bring back the pole a bit. If to windward, ease the pole a bit. Better to have pole a little bit forward in case of wipeout. Keep the mast over the boat.
Anyone else want to correct me? I don’t profess to have this down completely!
Bruce
Yup- I know about the usual pole easing/squaring and driving techniques. This is legal in phrf (at least in California. I don’t think anyone around here would even notice I had one rigged). Maybe this will help- http://www.spinnakershop.com/Out-grabber.htm Not an outboard strut, but a block fastened to the boom to position the spin sheet more outboard.
What this does is flatten the foot of the sail and open the leach when you tighten the pole downhaul/ease topping-lift, if I believe the few tutorials I’ve read. I just know of nobody actually using it, which is what I was hoping to find.
There are times when you have a handful driving the boat downwind in heavy air despite all of the usual tricks- frequently occurs when we get a mixed bag of heavy air along with sloppy seas (due to current, ocean swells and local weather systems).
I guess I have heard of this, just couldn’t associate the ‘grabber’ name.
Interesting!
I don’t race in those conditions much..but maybe I could hook my twing to the boom somehow and accomplish the same thing!
A small snatch block on a short line on the boom should do it.
Or maybe a guy hook on the boom. The ones that small spin boats use. Put the sheet in it.
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