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[Bugsy]

.................to a model yacht?
I fancy having a go on my Comtesse which is sitting here doing nothing.

I thought of using a chute-tube (like some full-size dinghies) and servos system whereby you could raise and lower it at will. There would be a problem with sheeting on different tacks that would need to be overcome.

Just an idea any thoughts welcome.

[malcolmfrary]

A good few years ago the AC12 lads then sailing in France tried it (one of them, at least), much as you describe.  I think, remembering back and reading between the lines in the mag article, that they ran into the same problems that the full size ones ran into - getting it up without tying a knot in it, and packing it away in a tidy manner.  These were considerably bigger boats than the Comptesse, so getting it all to work in a relatively small boat could be quite a challenge.
At least with the full size ones there is crew on hand to sort it out.

[Netleyned]

How would you overcome the problem
of the spinnaker pole being handed to
the correct clew for each tack?
Two sheet winches?
System for lowering?

I Bet someones done it!

Ned

[Bradley]

Have a look at this website, Bugsy.  It is an online sample copy of the magazine of the American Model Yachting Association and it contains an article about spinnakers on model yachts which you may find useful.

http://www.theamya.org/my/138-SampleWebEdition0801.pdf

Derek.

[pugwash]

On my boat we used to sail shorthanded - i.e. me and SWMBO so we used an assymetric spinnaker ( like a cruising shoot)
the lazy sheet went outside the forestay and the sheet you were using was winched in as required you cannot tack but you can
jybe easing one sheet and winching in the other you have to be a bit careful otherwise the lazy sheet ends in the sea and
wrapped round the keel.  Assymetric spinnaker is better as you can head further into wind than you can with a normal spinnaker

Pugwash

[Bugsy]

Thanks Derek, food for thought.

and thanks for all the other replies.