In Steve Dashews book " Practical Seamanship" He talks of this method to run down wind connecting the jibs clew to the end of the boom, thus connecting the 2 sails. as i think the guy is god , im certainly going to try this as im trying to get away from carrying a Gin pole as the Tophat doesnt really like to run dead downwind anyway.
Steve says that this plan eliminates or reduces cupping of the jib, improved steering, comfort and speed.
anyone tried it?

I have used the whisker pole like this broad reaching and I was really impressed!

I too have used the whisker pole instead of the boom. For a broad reach it works very well.
I would be worried about how you are attaching the jib sheet to the boom and if an accidental gybe happened where it all ends up.

I can not imagine the sheeting angle to be real good. The top of the sail would be twisting off something severe. using a whisker pole as we do, allows you to get the correct sheeting angle. God forbid if you gybed with it attached to the boom. If you have a whisker pole you can also pole out to windward if you are running deep enough. It is amazing the difference poling out makes.

Or you could just run a sheet right to the back of the boat, somewhat like a drifter?

I'm keen to give it a go, it's exactly the way a mizzen staysail is rigged. You would defiantly need boom preventer rigged not only to stop the unintended gybe but also to keep the boom from moving inboard as you sheet the headsail in. The cut of the headsail and the height of boom would be the factors deciding it's do ability. I'm thinking furl the main and use the boom to pole out your biggest headsail on one side and use the whisker pole on your next size sail on the other side, would give a nice down wind ride

pole out the headsail as soon as possible you wont believe how much nicer the boat handles and how little she rolls will also steer better under auto
pole length should be equal to the length of the foot of the sail otherwise the sail ends up way too deep

When racing jib and main in WA we used to do the following which worked amazing well....

- Put the kit halyard clip through the spinnaker pole ring on the mast and connect to inboard end of the pole
- Attach the outboard end of the pole to the jib and use topping lift as per normal
- Now adjust the kite halyard length to adjust length of pole pushing the jib out

With this method by adjust the kite halyard and topping lift you can put the jib clew anywhere you want, and man can it be fast!!

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rumblefish said..
When racing jib and main in WA we used to do the following which worked amazing well....

- Put the kit halyard clip through the spinnaker pole ring on the mast and connect to inboard end of the pole
- Attach the outboard end of the pole to the jib and use topping lift as per normal
- Now adjust the kite halyard length to adjust length of pole pushing the jib out

With this method by adjust the kite halyard and topping lift you can put the jib clew anywhere you want, and man can it be fast!!

I like the sound of that. Gives you plenty of options.

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rumblefish said..
When racing jib and main in WA we used to do the following which worked amazing well....

- Put the kit halyard clip through the spinnaker pole ring on the mast and connect to inboard end of the pole
- Attach the outboard end of the pole to the jib and use topping lift as per normal
- Now adjust the kite halyard length to adjust length of pole pushing the jib out

With this method by adjust the kite halyard and topping lift you can put the jib clew anywhere you want, and man can it be fast!!

Aaahhhh. Tricky! Sounds like the "wobbly pole" system used in National 12s etc in England. Thanks.

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rumblefish said..
When racing jib and main in WA we used to do the following which worked amazing well....

- Put the kit halyard clip through the spinnaker pole ring on the mast and connect to inboard end of the pole
- Attach the outboard end of the pole to the jib and use topping lift as per normal
- Now adjust the kite halyard length to adjust length of pole pushing the jib out

With this method by adjust the kite halyard and topping lift you can put the jib clew anywhere you want, and man can it be fast!!

Love it. Was thinking I might need a shorter pole but that is a beautiful solution.
Should work on the screecher as well.

Good video with excellent production values. Several examples of poled out headsails, twin head sails and poled out headsails for reaching.

one thing we like to do with the symmetrical kite is ................. when running / shy reaching , to change the shape of the full kite to more like an assy , drop the tip of the pole down LOW ! [ it sits on the pulpit] to straighten the luff , and keep on sailin !

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Ramona said..
Good video with excellent production values. Several examples of poled out headsails, twin head sails and poled out headsails for reaching.

Nice video.