I have the (Kevlar) ATN Tacker but its not what I use. It was cumbersome to connect and difficult to get sliding in light air. If you cant fly the tack you get nothing out of an asymmetrical.
I have a custom seat/mast carrier/kids dive platform mounted on my bow pulpit. In it I mounted a metal lined through hole fairlead just behind the forward most part of pulpit loop. I tie a small shackle to ¼ line run through the fair lead then along stanchion mounted blocks (like the furler line on most boats) all the way back to the cockpit. Actually it mirrors our furler line. My range of control is beyond what even the sail maker says is possible and my light air performance is so good I get jaw drops when I sail past boats with flogging sails. Running in very light air Ill drop the main and get 5° beyond dead down from an asymmetrical. The sail actual pushes around past the centerline of the boat as I fly the tack and let the chute billow. I also use ¼ ultra light (water shedding) sheets, which may seem crazy on a 435 square foot sail, but I only use it in light conditions. The ¼ line will remind you to douse the sail and get back on the 4-5 oz sails if the wind builds but it really lets the sail perform in light air. Phil Agur s/v Wing Tip Secretary/Treasurer Call Sign WCW3485 IC27/270A MMSI 366901790 <http://www.catalina27.org/> www.catalina27.org Vessel Doc# 1039809 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 1:11 PM To: [email protected] Subject: catalina27-talk: asymmetrical spinnaker I have an asymmetrical spinnaker. The clew is attached to my furled jib by a 1" wide strip of webbing that is tied around the furled jib. A local sailmaker has a collar that he sells that is wider and looks to be made of Dacron sail material, for $25. I've also heard of the ATN Tacker, which appears to be made of plastic for $85. What do you folks use, and are you happy or unhappy with it? Bob Mann
