NEWS
Optimise your cruiser / Racer Part 4: Spinnaker Systems and Cockpit Layout

Upgrading the Deck Gear and Systems on a Standard Beneteau First 34.7 By Sam Bourne, Technical Manager, HARKEN UK Ltd.
Making the systems on your boat more efficient will make a large difference to your boathandling and will make you faster around the race course. This series of articles is aimed at illustrating some areas for attention on a standard production cruiser/racer, using the example of a new Beneteau 34.7.

Part 4: Spinnaker Systems and Cockpit Layout
The New Beneteau First 34.7 is an IRC-focused Cruiser-Racer from the drawing board of Farr Yacht Design. This new offering is a departure from the normal Beneteau formula in that she is aggressively positioned in IRC and features a deep T-shaped bulb keel with a high ballast ratio.

The standard boat is entirely Harken-equipped but there are some tweaks you can do to make boat handling easier and get an edge on the competition.

Spinnaker Systems
A common thing that is missed of many production boats is spinnaker sheet deflector blocks. These deflect the spinnaker sheet as it leads from the sheet block at the back of the boat, around the outside of the cockpit and leads neatly to the coach roof winches. This stops the sheet cutting across the cockpit and getting in the way of the helmsman and trimmers. This is often fitted to a padeye near the first stanchion forward from the back of the boat, and will give a neat lead up to the halyard winch. On smaller boats, up to 35-footers, this block is ideal as a ratchet block. This gives good grip and control on the line and can free up a winch at the vital moment coming out of a hoist or going into a drop.

Spinnaker sheet (red) running through the deflector block and up to the halyard winch. Photo: Sam Bourne Spinnaker sheet tweeker lead to coachroof top. Photo: Sam Bourne Photo C: Tidy trimmers area with all controls to hand. Photo: Sam Bourne

Spinnaker sheet tweekers are also often overlooked. Having a tweeker that is easily-to-hand with sufficient purchase to allow the sheet to the pulled down, even in heavy air, is very important. It also helps to have the line easily accessed when you go for the hoist and the leeward tweeker is still on! In this shot, you can see the 2:1 tweeker, the red line with a #2649 40/29C Traveller block on the sheet and a #341 29C Single & Becket on the deck, leading aft through a #340 29C Single and then back to the #150 Cammatic with #425 Flairlead on the coach roof.

Trimmers Area
To make your trimmers job easier, you must think about what controls you trimmer must be able to adjust easily and ensure these are close to hand.

In the Photo C, you can see the controls laid out in an easy to use arrangement. From the left you have — headsail car puller (white), spinnaker sheet tweeker (red), pole downhaul (blue), jib inhaul (grey). This means the trimmer can change gears effectively without having to get others off the rail, therefore making the boat faster.

In summary
1. Make sure all your controls are 'effective tuning tools'.

2. Think about what jobs are done and when in the various manoeuvres. This can help with the positioning of fittings to ensure that someone can use them at the right time.

3. Ensure that all your equipment is checked, maintained and serviced regularly to get the best out of it.

4. The 5 P's - Proper preparation prevents poor performance.

Links:
Part 1: Mainsheet and Traveller
Part 2: Backstay and Vang
Part 3: Headsail Car Control and Inhauler

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