We've been dousing down the forward hatch for the last few years due to my experience in bigger boats and J-29's. We douse the spinnaker under the jib (leeward) or to windward as the situation requires and stuff it down the hatch with all lines connected and close the hatch. When the boat is settled out upwind, the pit person goes below, disconnects the gear from the sail, connects it together and tosses it out the hatch. Then they re-pack. Foredeck clips the gear back to the lifelines and clears the halyard leaving us ready for the next hoist. It works pretty well especially if you can open the hatch past 90 degrees. My orignal hatch did not, but I put in a new one that does (for different reasons). I've sailed on a 29 that removed the locking brackets so the hatch would open fully.
Ed Austin
Chinook
