Spinnaker Flying

Spinnaker Flying in a Nutshell

All you need is some decent wind, one medium to large sailboat, preferably a masthead rig, a boson's chair, and (preferably) a tri-radial spinnaker.

1. Anchor off the stern.
2. Attach boson's chair to the clews of the sail. No guy, no pole for this.
3. Enter the water off the bow, sit in the boson's chair (with the sail collapsed), and release the sheets.

You will be launched from water level, to the height of the mast in about 1 second.

Then, you can control horizontal and vertical movement by manipulating the sheets.

What's funny is this: the force of the launch usually leaves whatever you're wearing around your ankles, so boys, and girls (if you're wearing a bikini); you just might be flying naked.

The only way to pull 'em up is to bail, and most of the time, when you bail you're bottoms are lost forever.

We've thrown many a towel overboard.

Anyway, it just takes a couple of times before you get the feel of it.

It's too much fun and too many laughs. Everyone always has a good time.