If your J is 13’6”, the LP of your 155 is 20’11”. By the rule of thumb, the 
optimum whisker pole length is about 16’9”.

 

With the 13’4”pole at the mast and perpendicular to the centerline of the boat, 
the line from the tack fitting to the end of the pole is 19’1”. Perpendicular 
to the center line would project the sail out as far as possible (which is what 
the whisker pole is supposed to do). There should have been some curvature to 
the sail, which you want so you get the maximum pressure on the sail (a cupped 
shape generates more pressure than a flat barn door shape). I find I usually 
run the pole about 15 to 20 degrees forward of the mast to promote that cupped 
shape.

 

The LP of your 135 would be about 18’3”, so the spin pole would stretch the 
sail flat and still be a bit forward of perpendicular. (Optimum whisker pole 
would be 14’7”) You might need to run the spin pole at a forward angle to get 
the proper sail shape, though that doesn’t get you the maximum projection of 
the sail.

 

And the essence of a whisker pole is that the length is adjustable, so you and 
match the length to the size of the headsail you are flying.

 

Mike Hoyt’s comment that a pole longer than J costs you seconds in most PHRF 
areas is true. But not in all areas. And some of us are cruisers who want to 
get the most out of the boat, even though too short handed to fly the spin 
except on a log run.

 

Plus I have always thought the use of J for max pole length in non-spin racing 
to be arbitrary and slightly inequitable in those regions that give a separate 
rating for spin and JAM racing. Seems like if you race JAM, you ought to be 
able to optimize the boat for JAM racing.

 

Rick Brass

Washington, NC

 

 

 

From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of RANDY via 
CnC-List
Sent: Monday, August 22, 2016 10:24 AM
To: cnc-list <cnc-list@cnc-list.com>
Cc: RANDY <randy.staff...@comcast.net>
Subject: Re: Stus-List Assymetrical spinnaker pole

 

My SPL is 13'4" and my J is 13'6".  I used the spin pole to pole out my 155% 
genoa running wing and wing, and it stretched the sail out flat.  Couldn't have 
done it with my 135% genoa; the spin pole would be too long for that.  Using 
Rick's calculation below (optimal whisker pole length is 80% of LP), my spin 
pole is ~4" too long as a whisker pole for my 155.

 

Cheers,

Randy

 

  _____  

From: "Mike via CnC-List Hoyt" <cnc-list@cnc-list.com 
<mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com> >
To: "cnc-list" <cnc-list@cnc-list.com <mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com> >
Cc: "Mike Hoyt" <mike.h...@impgroup.com <mailto:mike.h...@impgroup.com> >
Sent: Monday, August 22, 2016 6:22:23 AM
Subject: Re: Stus-List Assymetrical spinnaker pole

 

Spin or whisker pole longer than J is subject to penalty in most areas

 

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