Bow Sprit retractor

[danieljcpa]

On my J80, the Bow Sprit retracted back into the boat as soon as the extension line was released.  That is no so with the U20 Sprit.  It has to be consciously pulled back onto the boat by a crew already busy trying to get the Spinnaker down and put away, all the sheets cleaned up and the jib set for the new course. 

Add to that, if the rounding is to starboard, the lazy sheet can get trapped under the bow sprit when it does get retracted...what a mess.

My question is:

Is it legal to install a retractor mechanism (bungee system) that addresses both of the above issues?

[Travis Gregory]

I think it's an interesting idea Dan.  I wonder if it causes other issues.  Seems like it would have been adopted by now as the J's have been doing it this way since the 90's. 

I did a quick search on the rules and can't find anything specifically prohibiting it:

9. BOWSPRIT: The bowsprit and its housing shall be as supplied by the builder and may not be modified.
9.1. The bowsprit shall be retractable to a point at least equal to the stem and shall not be capable of being extended beyond 71 inches forward of the stem. When the bowsprit is fully extended, the tack line shall be on the centerline of the hull extended.
9.2. The bowsprit shall be fully retracted (so that its tip does not extend beyond the stem) when the spinnaker is not flying, except when in the process of CONTINUOUS HOIST or immediately after dousing the spinnaker.

This section talks about replacement of lines:

2. Blocks, eyes, cleats and fairleads associated with the mainsheet, jib sheets, spinnaker sheets, spinnaker halyard, spinnaker tack line, and jib furling arrangements may be replaced, but the location of the fittings shall not be changed. Additional cleats and blocks may be added. The spinnaker halyard block and the spinnaker halyard exit block may be replaced with a single halyard exit block.

It seems it would be legal to replace the current retractor line with a bungie version.

[Mark Allen]

Jim Uli and juiced #19 has a bungee system set up to retract the pole. I do not know how well it works.

Mark

[Don Corey]

On the spin take down first release the sprit line, as the foot is gathered in the sprit will retract, then release the tack line to complete gathering the foot in, then release the spin halyard to complete the take down.  Works every time on #25.  I once did the bungee thing attached to the sprit inside forward plug until I found the correct method mentioned above.
Wow, in twenty years of sailing a U20 I've never done a starboard rounding.  May want to tie a stopper knot in the sprit activation line so that the tip does not retract but an inch or two behind the stem.

[Don Corey]

One more thing, if you try this and it does not work, you may need to remove the sprit 'snail' and redo the felt sliders and McLube them and the pole well.  The pole must be free of dirt, gum, grim,etc and be well lubricated.

[Tac Boston]

We do it like Don says, pole first, then halyard, then tack line.

Also like Don says a good cleaning and some new felt in there would be good as well.
Tac

[Keith Ziegler]

You mean to tell me they have to do all that to get the chute down? I thought it was me yelling at them that made it come down faster!

Keith
#173

[Tac Boston]

We don't call you grumpy smurf for nothing