How to Hoist a Spinnaker

When you live near sailing waters, you'll catch a glimpse of a spinnaker flying in front of a sailboat, but may not know its name. Because of its resemblance to a parachute, the spinnaker is also called a "chute" sail. In Australia, the sail is referred to as the "kite" because it flies so far forward of the boat, according to the Harvey Mudd College Sailing Club. Hoisting a spinnaker, or raising this sail, is no more complicated than any other sail, provided you're squared away on deck.

Things You'll Need

  • Sailboat
  • Spinnaker
  • Spinnaker pole
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Instructions

    • 1

      Rig the foreguy before leaving the harbor or the marina. Lead the foreguy through the fairlead on the mast and back to the cleat on the cockpit.

    • 2

      Setting the spinnaker requires hoisting the spinnaker pole first. Clip the inboard end of the spinnaker pole on the forward edge of the mast, in the sliding ring provided for this purpose.

    • 3

      Hoist the spinnaker pole by pulling on the topping lift attached to a ring forming a "bridle" on the pole.

    • 4

      Ease the foreguy out, if necessary, as you pull on the topping lift. The foreguy prevents the spinnaker from rising too high in large gusts of wind. It serves to hold the spinnaker pole down.

    • 5

      Snug the foreguy after the spinnaker pole is hoisted.

    • 6

      Attach the head of the spinnaker sail to the spinnaker halyard (line).

    • 7

      Use the spinnaker halyard and hoist the spinnaker by pulling down on the spinnaker halyard.

    • 8

      Tie off each of the spinnaker sheets to the turning blocks near the stern on the sailboat and the port and starboard sides. The spinnaker sheets are the two lines at each corner of the spinnaker.