SPINNAKER HANDLING and SOCK RITUALS

Solutions for Spinnakers We supply and recommend the ATN Spinnaker Sock.  ATN Spinnaker Socks make spinnaker handling a breeze.  You will wonder why you ever hesitated to set this delightful,  performance-enhancing  sail.
Whether you are cruising with a light-air asymmetric or racing short-handed for all-out performance, the sock will give you the confidence to fly this sail in conditions that might  otherwise seem marginal.  The rigid molded bell allows easy dousing in any conditions, thus maximizing benefits and enjoyment of this high performance sail.  The ease of use will encourage you to set when you otherwise may not, because you know you can douse at will.

The sock arrives with complete hardware, ready to install between your spinnaker halyard and your sail . Many of our short-handed customers have a sock permanently installed on each of their spinnakers.

Sock description and details

 

The ATN spinnaker sock is a device that allows you to single-hand any free-luff sail up to 6,000 square feet: standard symmetrical spinnakers, asymmetrical spinnakers, cruising spinnakers, and mizzen staysails. Its foolproof design and simple operation make it a good investment for protecting and enjoying these performance-enhancing, but sometimes worrisome, sails.

We have found the ATN spinnaker sock to offer the most advantages and the fewest problems of any sock available, including the custom socks we used to make at The Spinnaker Shop. The ATN features include:

* The rigid fiberglass bell that does not warp under load and easily furls the sail.

* The colored stripe that tells you if the sock is ready to be hoisted, even at night.

* The control lines that run in a tangle-free channel separate from the sail.

* The light and strong mesh material that allows you to store the sail and let it dry without removing the sock.

With an ATN spinnaker sock, you will never have to "pack" your sail again. The sail is hoisted inside the sock, ready to be used. You will fly your sail more often and in stronger winds, because the maneuvers for setting, jibing, and dousing can be accomplished easily in heavy air and with minimal crew. (See our Rituals).

The ATN spinnaker sock was developed in Europe, on Maxi Multi-hulls, where it has become indispensable to the small number of crew that operate the large boats. It is used worldwide by short-handed crews, from the single-handed around-the-world race to short-handed Pacific Cups to local coastal cruising.

The spinnaker sock must not be longer than the leech of the sail to prevent jamming of the clews; e.g. for a 50’ spinnaker, we recommend 49’ sock.

SHORT-HANDED SPINNAKER RITUALS
Using a Spinnaker Sock
Recommended by Stan Honey and Sally Lindsay Honey

SET:
 

  From COCKPIT:
         Set up pole within easy reach of pulpit.
         Adjust lift, foreguy, and afterguy until pole is secured about chest height and
                      three feet away from forestay.

From FOREDECK:
        Secure bottom end of sock control line loop at deck or lifelines.
        Hoist socked spinnaker on spinnaker halyard.
        Attach guy and sheet to clews of spinnaker.
        Check all is ready on foredeck and in cockpit.
        Raise sock while pulling down center foot of spinnaker.  

From COCKPIT:
        Fill kite with sheet trim, then trim pole.
JIBE:
  From COCKPIT:
          Trim pole to set position, see above. Insure ONE luff only is taut.
  From FOREDECK:
          Sock spinnaker and secure control lines.
  From COCKPIT:
          Jibe main.
  From FOREDECK:
          Raise inboard end of pole to allow clearance of outboard end under forestay.
         Release old guy from pole (becomes new sheet).
         Dip pole under forestay.
         Attach new guy into pole end (was old sheet).
  From COCKPIT:
          Trim pole to new set position on new jibe.
  From FOREDECK:
          Raise sock (pulling down on center foot of spinnaker).
  From COCKPIT:
          Fill kite and trim pole.
DOUSE:
    From COCKPIT:
          Trim pole to "set" position (easy reach).
  From FOREDECK:
           Sock spinnaker and tie off control lines.
          Drop socked spinnaker into bag in forward hatch.
          Untie sheet, guy, halyard and drop sail into forward hatch.

For extreme situations, see our spinnaker net.