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Because the spinnaker and pole on a Flying Scot are relatively easily manhandled you can get away with jaws down (i.e. hooked over the top of the guy) however this is not the right way to do it, especially on a larger boat or in a stiff breeze.
With the jaws up the pole will drop when released. With the jaws down then the guy will only drop out if there is very little load on it, and if the poles “skies” you won’t be able to pull it down and get it off.
You should attach a short piece of line, or loop, to each jaw piston. That enables you to clip or unclip one end without freeing the other. The line that goes between both should be used as an “emergency” release. When the line is pulled hard near the middle the pole comes off both the guy and the mast ring and hangs on the topping lift.
Without a short line at each end then it can be difficult to pull the line so that only one end comes free.
To gybe, for example, hook the sheet into the guy clip first, pull the short line at the mast to release the pole from the mast ring (it will drop down easily), place the sheet in the free jaw, push the pole over to the other side, release the former guy by pulling the short line, and clip it directly on to the mast ring, then take the sheet (former guy) out of the guy clip.
Having both sheets in the pole as it is gybed simulates twing lines, which Flying Scots don’t have, and keeps the spinnaker under control during the gybe.
Have you checked to see it it has been bent slightly ? May want to take it off and look along the edge.
Phil,
I have always been told that the “T” toggle should be horizontal and balanced. I am not sure what you mean by “peged”. could you clarify this please?
JulianFleet 203A lot less expensive than a new plate. My problem is that the worn groove is narrow as well as deep and the forestay jams in it preventing the toggle bar to work, thus not spreading the laod between the forestay and jib halyard.
Glenn,
We have 5 flying Scots in our club, all of different vintage. A couple have very deep grooves in the plate and we will replace the plates.
If the forestay can cut a groove in the metal, is a vinyl cover robust enough ? How long has it lasted for you ?
Julian
In heavy air a technique I learnt when sailing boats larger than Scots is to grab the mainsheet behind the block on the boom, leaving the tail cleated. By pulling down at that point you have a 2:1 advantage.
This helps you pull the boom in quickly, flip it over and release it quickly, but under control.
The canvas whoopie thing on a FS complicates this, but ith a little paractice this is a fast and controlled maneuver.
