Yes, spinnakers can nearly double your racing costs. Years ago, at the height of Touche's racing program, we had 0.6, 0.75 and 1.5 oz chutes, two part high tech Dyneema/StaSet spin sheets, Harken carbo-ratchet tweakers (twings), custom chute launch bags, double pole downhaul(goes down each side of cabin and is trimmed in cockpit), a spinnaker halyard parking cleat, a "defraculator" (don't ask), light air spin sheets and probably a few more boat bucks of stuff I can't recall. I'm guessing all that adds up to somewhere around 10 big boat bucks.
You don't need to dive in that deep. A used chute, a few blocks and some old sheets will start you off just fine. Yes, you can race spin on a budget and still have a lot of fun. The best way to experiennce spin racing and learn is on someone else's boat. That's what I did. I spent several years crewing before I bought Touche' and started my own racing program. Dennis C. Touche' 35-1 #83 Mandeville, LA On Wed, Dec 18, 2019, 7:37 PM Charlie Nelson via CnC-List < [email protected]> wrote: > You are correct regarding expense--spin racing just requires more of > everything--crew, boat, gear, sails, food, drinks, etc. > > I like to race in what my crew prefers and also in the most competitive > arena. Locally at least, the JAM fleet is not competitive enough for > us--except for those whose high ratings in light air make it impossible to > race fairly against them. > > Of course I like to win but more importantly I want race in a competitive > fleet, even if I come in last but close to my competitors. Winning most of > the time in our local JAM fleet is not as much fun as busting our > collective as...es to come in last among the best local racers. > > That's my story and I am sticking to it!! > > Charlie Nelson > Water Phantom > C&C 36 XL/kcb > > > > >
_______________________________________________ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
