So OK 20 years ago when i raced OD we always launched spin from rail ... but when i watched the nationals in Bristol most of the boats launched from the front hatch and many seemed to douse into the hatch as well. some launched from the companionway ala j24 and a few still launched from the rail...
So i have started to launch from the hatch and use the vee berth as a set up for the spin instead of a bag ... not all that bad ... but some of my crew still thinks we should use the rail ... of course they are not foredeck crew. I think I can leave the sheets attached into the hatch and that seems to be a plus ... why have most people gone to the hatch ... is it just because it is easier all around? and if so why do some boats still use the bag on the rail?

Vic

We switched to a hatch launch and douse a bunch of years ago-I'd never go back. Much less hassle in the cockpit, no need to detach/reattach lines, much less chance of an accidental early deployment. The current NA champ uses a companionway launch (a carryover from his J-24)-I tried that a few times, didn't like it as much do to the sail obscuring the view from the helm during the douse.

Make sure that the hatch has no nasty things that can catch/tear the sail though.

Steve - I remember when I crewed on Smiles for the 2007 NAs that they did the spinnaker in the fwd hatch, but don't recall the details. Just wondering on the following questions if you could explain what's done.

• Is the spin halyard left attached, or connected just before launch?
• If connected before launch, I assume it has to run forward, outside the jib, under the jib foot, then back to the spin head. Is it less difficult than that sounds?
• Are sheets left connected after the douse?
• Does a person need to be below the fwd hatch to pull in the spinnaker, or can it be stuffed quickly enough from topside?
• How many people are forward during the douse (doing what)

This is great thread. I have been trying side launches, pulpit launches, and companionway launch and my crew and I all have a favorite way to do it. I am very curious about this forward hatch launch. I have one other question to add to the list.

which way does the hatch face. I have seen 30 with hatches that open to the bow and others that open towards the mast. does this matter? It seems like it would catch if it opened "backwards".

One general comment I would make about the hatch (or companionway) versus the rail is that the lack of needing to run the chute and repack means weight can stay on the rail rather than spending time below. This benefit of course depends upon conditions....

I've done all the combo's

the issue with the hatch set is making sure it clears the hatch edges and doesn't get hung up If you are using the Bomar plastic hatch DO NOT SET from the hatch you may break it (250.00) it works best if the hatch opens forward so it lies flat on the deck.

Dead down wind takedowns are great thru the hatch if you are reaching in it doesn't work. Also in a big breeze you may end up with too many people forward getting it down

We have gone back to a rail set and either a leeward or windward take down as its a standard method ie if you have crew coming and going from the boat.

We do what ever is needed. Launch first from the rail then try and douse to the hatch, then launch from the hatch on the second leg. But we are always prepared to douse to the companion way - I do not think you can always count on one way to get the chute down.

Also we found that it really helps to have the foreguy mounted either at the mast base or between the mast and the hatch. With it in front of the hatch it just seemed to get in the way a lot.

David
#397

As Buzbee mentioned "Fuzzy Wuzzy" use the companion way set/douse all the time. For us it started with the guys at X-yachts and Diamond sails convincing us to use this system on the X-102 we got close to 25 years ago and we never turned back.
Some of the advantages are: no need for more than one person forward of the mast, no need to disconnect any lines (we keep them connected for a whole regatta), the crew can stay on the high side (if needed) during sets & douses, no need to re-pack (if it came down it will go back up), less risk of getting tangled with the Genoa, very easy when sailing shorthanded (Marie and I use it often when we sail with the kids) and best of all it is always the same (port side) - less confusing for all involved.
Potential disadvantages:
Prefeeding the foot takes a little longer, somewhat harder to do a gybe set and windward take downs are harder coming in too hot in 20+
We use a deep bag from Layline suspended from Spectra lines each side of the copanion way- this makes it easy to slide it forward or clip it to one side between races.
Bengt Johansson - "Fuzzy Wuzzy"

For those looking to see the hatch launch in action:


don't know which J30 this is at Key West ... but it pretty much sums up the program. Genny snugged in a bit, fordeck helping the release out of the hatch, halyard raised at the mast, guy prefed to end of pole, probably sheet prefed to just behind shroud.

on Vee Jay because we have roller furling ... the foredeck rolls in the genny from his position just before the mast as soon as the spin is up and pole brought back. The Genny lazy sheet is over the front end of the top bridle, and the crew is trained to maintain a genny sheet on the front end of the pole for jibes.

I was having crew problems with cockpit confusion about pole up, pole down, pole forward, pole back ... so moved spin halyard to mast, pole lift to mast and genny furl to foredeck. only thing we control from back of boat is pole down. But as I remember from the old days the first thing we did is always set up a spin halyard cleat on the mast... still goes to the turning block at base of mast just in case.

Maybe Fat City in the photo?