We've only flown the 1.5 oz spinnaker on Touche' twice. To say the least it's exhilarating.
Back in the early 2000's when we were racing the boat hard, we were in a regatta on the Gulf Coast. On Saturday with two windward/leeward twice around races scheduled, it was blowing in the high teens to near 20. We rounded the windward mark, launched the 1.5 and prayed. Again, the rule on Touche' is never let the center seam in the bottom panel cross to windward of the forestay. We don't carry the pole square like we do in light to moderate breeze. We ease the pole forward so that center seam moves to leeward. This puts the boat in a quasi-reaching configuration. You're still susceptible to broaching but much less susceptible to a death roll (been there, done that, don't ever want to do it again). We also choked the chute with the twings to reduce oscillations. Since we were doing hull speed, we headed deep for the downwind mark and never gybed. Touche's 1.5 oz at that time had very narrow shoulders so the power aloft was reduced. This makes the chute easier to control. Even with all those measures and an experienced crew, it was a heck of a ride. We did a very early take down as I remember. Took 2-3 crew to wrestle the chute down. We chose not to fly it the second downwind but did again in the first downwind of the second race. I think we won our class in that regatta. Memorable day. Don't want to do it again. Dennis C. Touche' 35-1 #83 Mandeville, LA
_______________________________________________ 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
