Your wording was fine.  I understand the rule.  What I'm missing is the reason 
for the rule.  Why don't they allow a pole to be used on the clew of a 
spinnaker? 
 
I want to try a whisker pole on my assymetric.  I watched the boat finish live, 
and the boat was dialed-in and they were smoking straight toward the finish 
line in total control.
 
Chuck S
 
 
 
 

> On 01/01/2026 5:10 PM EST Don Kern via CnC-List <[email protected]> wrote:
>  
>  
> Chuck,
> 
> Sorry for the wording, what I meant was the "Free Flying"  with an Asym 
> spinnaker that is tacked to the bow or a strut on bow's centerline, the clew 
> had to be attached to a sheet and can not be held outboard of the hull  by a 
> spin pole.  
> 
> Don Kern
> Fireball, C&C35 Mk2
> Bristol, RI
> 
> 
> On 1/1/2026 2:51 PM, CHARLES SCHEAFFER wrote:
> 
> > Ok.  I understand the rule.  It's simpler in the newer rules.  But why does 
> > a spinnaker have to have one clew free flying?  Why do they have this rule? 
> >  It doesn't apply to Comanche or Law Connect or the other hundred footers 
> > that sheet their assyms to a strut.
> >  
> > Chuck S
> > 
> > > On 01/01/2026 1:25 AM EST Don Kern via CnC-List <[email protected]> 
> > > mailto:[email protected] wrote:
> > >  
> > >  
> > > Rule 50.3 Use of Outriggers 
> > > (a) No sail shall be sheeted over or through an outrigger, except as 
> > > permitted in rule 50.3(b) or 50.3(c). An outrigger is any fitting or 
> > > other device so placed that it could exert outward pressure on a sheet or 
> > > sail at a point from which, with the boat upright, a vertical line would 
> > > fall outside the hull or deck. For the purpose of this rule, bulwarks, 
> > > rails and rubbing strakes are not part of the hull or deck and the 
> > > following are not outriggers: a bowsprit used to secure the tack of a 
> > > sail, a bumkin used to sheet the boom of a sail, or a boom of a boomed 
> > > headsail that requires no adjustment when tacking. 
> > > (b) Any sail may be sheeted to or led above a boom that is regularly used 
> > > for a sail and is permanently attached to the mast from which the head of 
> > > the sail is set. 
> > > (c) A headsail may be sheeted or attached at its clew to a spinnaker pole 
> > > or whisker pole, provided that a spinnaker is not set.
> > > 
> > > BNC as she was finishing was definitely flying an Asym Spinnaker (Mid > 
> > > 75% of foot) attached to the bow and a spinnaker pole.  It was not an 
> > > Headsail  (Mid <75% foot) and a spinnaker needs to have one clew free 
> > > flying.
> > > 
> > > Don Kern
> > > Fireball, C&C35 Mk2
> > > Bristol, RI
> > > 
> > > On 1/1/2026 12:38 AM, Joel Aronson via CnC-List wrote:
> > > 
> > > > The sail is a gennaker so it is not rated as a spinnaker. 
> > > > 
> > > > Joel
> > > > 
> > > >  
> > > > 
> > > > On Wed, Dec 31, 2025 at 5:25 PM CHARLES SCHEAFFER via CnC-List 
> > > > <[email protected] mailto:[email protected]> wrote:
> > > > 
> > > > > It was one hell of a race.  The images are amazing.  
> > > > >  
> > > > > The first to finish, doublehander, BNC, got penalized for using a 
> > > > > whisker pole to prop up the clew of their assymetric.  What a 
> > > > > beautiful sight to see the boat so well balanced flying dead downwind 
> > > > > in total control.
> > > > >  
> > > > > It must be for safety reasons, but I don't understand why.  Can 
> > > > > anyone explain why the sailing rules 55.3 forbid this use of a pole?
> > > > >  
> > > > >  
> > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > Chuck S
> > > > > November is the time of the year when my Internet bills come in.  
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> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > November is the time of the year when my Internet bills come in.  It's 
> > > > also the time when you can show your appreciation of this list and the 
> > > > C&C Photo Album.  Please help by making a small contribution using 
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> > > > contributions are greatly appreciated.
> > > > 
> > > November is the time of the year when my Internet bills come in. It's 
> > > also the time when you can show your appreciation of this list and the 
> > > C&C Photo Album. Please help by making a small contribution using PayPal 
> > > at: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/stumurray All contributions are 
> > > greatly appreciated.
> > > 
> > 
> November is the time of the year when my Internet bills come in. It's also 
> the time when you can show your appreciation of this list and the C&C Photo 
> Album. Please help by making a small contribution using PayPal at: 
> https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/stumurray All contributions are greatly 
> appreciated.
> 
November is the time of the year when my Internet bills come in.  It's also the 
time when you can show your appreciation of this list and the C&C Photo Album.  
Please help by making a small contribution using PayPal at:  
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/stumurray  All contributions are greatly 
appreciated.

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