So busted
WOW-
I was seeing something right under the foot and assumed it was a pole...Would you believe your trimming was so perfect I could not tell it didn't have a pole? No? Worth a shot anyway......
OK. let's backtrack a bit (You guys are GOOD!)
1). Roger (he said sheepishly), for YOUR type of use for now (no pole), YES, as you sail deeper, you will ease the sheet AND the tackline-definitely do away with the Tacker, or whatever you are using. This will allow the sail to "rotate" to windward as you sail deeper with the sheet eased. Rotating to windward will allow the sail to fly away from the main and work at much deeper angles than if you keep it attached to the forestay. In fact, I'm not much of a believer in those tacker thingies anyway-I don't really see any advantage at all in keeping it closer to the forestay-even when close reaching, but this may depend on design. I can tell you that the Doyle and Q A-sail and cruising kites (almost the same thing) do just fine without them. All I do is adjust the tackline for the conditions.
2). Ted, as Chris said, the limit on pole length without penalty is the J dimension, which is 16.25 feet. ALL race boats use this dimension, because you want the longest possible pole to get as much projection as you can (except those which carry penalty poles, which are even longer than J).
3). Chris-Sorry I don't remember if we specifically have discussed your layout before, but to fully rig for a pole you will need: a). Mast track with fitting to accept pole end (jaws or male-female type). If you do a lot of racing, this should be adjustable with block and tackle, if rarely, then a pin-stop car on the track will do-but for good trim, the pole height must be adjustable at the mast. Note: Harken has an excellent section on mast tracks and fittings in their catalog b). Pole Topping Lift-usually exits between upper and lower spreaders (looks like a halyard). The mast is set up for it, but if not rigged, and you have an extra unused halyard, it is OK to use a extra halyard for this. Depending on the pole set up, it attaches either to a bridle on the pole or to the outboard end of the Pole. Schaeffer and Harken both have nice drawings of this in their catalogs-I think. c). Pole Foreguy-Traditionally from the fwd end of the pole (if dip pole type with male-female inboard end) or to the bottom bridle (double jaw type). This leads from a block on the track just fwd. of the fwd hatch (as has been recently diiscussed re: 30+). If no track is fitted, then place a padeye 1/3 of J back from the stem. The foreguy goes from the pole to a block on the track or padeye, then usually aft along the cabin sides (often double ended for more purchase and to adjust from either side). What I have described is the typical set up for conventional spinnakers. You can fly the A-sail using this, with the addition of the "downf.....er", which is essentially a combination forguy/tackline adjuster.
Now that I read your post again, I see that your idea was simply to use a pole as the attach point (hence the lashig reference)-DO NOT bother-unless you plan to actually use the pole normally (squaring back when deep, easing fwd. for closer reaching). To do what I think you are saying buys you nothing more than not using a pole at all. If you use a pole at all, take advantage of what it can do!
What else? Extendable whisker poles are not strong enough to use as a spin pole-don't try. By all means go Carbon-it is SO WORTH it!
As far as the tack line rubbing on the pulpit, the solution is to run the tackline through a block either on the genoa tack fitting or shackled onto the anchor roller-either way, you want the tackline to exit though and out in front of the pulpit. The sail will keep it away from rubbing (which won't really affect trim, just cause chafe and stress on the metal), and you can adjust from close to well eased.
One other item: The 38 is best suited for Dip Pole Gybing, rather than end-for end gybing. This is a function of rig size-just too big to muscle around. That means male-female fitting on one end of the pole and jaws on the outboard end...
There is so much more that can be said. If you need more scoop on your deck layout, feel free to contact me directly with specifics and we can work through them.
Cheers!
Humbly yours,
S
(we really appreciate all the time you put in on this board!), would you mind putting up a post about the rigging of a pole (we currently have an adjustable aluminum whisker pole, but we're considering getting a regular pole) and running it as the asym tack point? I'd like to do it without lashing stuff to the boat (jeez that makes me nervous). I've heard of these type set-ups as called "Down-F***Kers". Thought this might help with some of the rigging issues as our tack line rubs on the bow pulpit and effects shape. Thoughts?