J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment PHRF and Spin Pole Length

Hi,

What is the optimum overall spinnaker pole length for PHRF (Lake Ontario)? Is it the J length of 11'6" rather than the classs maximum of 12'6"?

Related to that, does anyone have experience flying class spinnakers with the 11'6" pole? How much is performance affected?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Generally with PHRF, the width of the spinnaker (SMW) is a function of pole length (SPL). 180% of SPL without a penalty. You really want to project the spinnaker out away from the boat as much as possible.

I've never really tried flying a class chute with a short pole. I 'spose it would work, but I don't know how efficient it would be.

We've never tried it either, but given how much the J/30 likes to have the pole back, or even slightly oversquared, I'd think a short pole with the full sized kite isn't going to be pretty. Not so much of an issue reaching, but as you come down, I think you'd be losing a fair bit of projection.

- David

You should talk to your Club's measurer.

The SPL and spinnaker girth measurments go hand in hand. The 180% max girth measuremnt is a multiple of the SPL.

If you shorten the pole without also cutting down all of your spinnakers there will be no benefit.