I read more on the rules and I'm more convinced it was the right call for 2025, 
but the rule should be changed for 2026.  
 
Chuck S

> On 01/02/2026 12:04 AM EST CHARLES SCHEAFFER via CnC-List 
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>  
>  
> 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 
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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.
> 
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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