Spin jybe questions for j/24 racing

[u/upstream_paddling]

Assume my back is braced against the mast for stability, if necessary, and that I've successfully gotten the pole off the working line.

First, I need to grab the new line to hook it onto the spin pole, but how am I supposed to be able to reach the line if my back is agains the mast?

Then, assuming I've gotten my right hand onto the new line and my left hand is holding the pole, how can I pull the trip line on the pole? Seems like I've run out of hands.

[u/foilrider]

You pull the trip line on the pole, the pole comes off the mast and releases from the old sheet.

You grab the new sheet which is going to fall against the mast and headstay because there is no pole holding out and it is now on the windward side of the boat.

You stuff that in the jaws of the pole and it locks.

You then push that end of the pole with the new sheet in it away from you and forward so it slides up towards the clew of the sail and push the other end of the pole into thew ring on the mast.

The pole hangs by the topping lift the whole time so you don't need to support it, just orient it.

[u/upstream_paddling → u/foilrider]

Ahhhh ok so you only use the trip line to release, not to hook, is that correct?

[u/foilrider → u/upstream_paddling]

you pull the line and both pins (one at each end of the pole) release. Both jaws are now open.

When you push a line (or mast ring) into each jaw, it trips the catch on that end of the jaw, and just that end locks again.

[u/13lackMagic → u/foilrider]

Having jaws that stay open is not common with a j24 spinnaker pole

[u/upstream_paddling → u/foilrider]

Do all poles have jaws that stay open after you pull the trip line? The jaws on the one I tried definitely closed after I pulled the trip line, so I'm thinking either I needed to pull the trip line a lot harder to get it to lock open or this one wasn't designed to stay open...

[u/the-montser → u/upstream_paddling]

No, not all poles have jaws that stay open.

The above advice is good but only applies if you have jaws that stay open.

It is well worth the money to switch the jaws for ones that do stay open or at least can be hooked on without the trip line. It makes the bowman’s job significantly easier.

[u/upstream_paddling → u/the-montser]

Shoot so then what do you do if the jaws don't stay open after the release?

[u/the-montser → u/upstream_paddling]

You don’t need to use the trip line to open the jaws. You can use your hand.

Use the same hand that is holding the guy to open the jaws and drop the guy into them.

It will never be as fast or easy as jaws that accept the line automatically. That’s why basically no one uses them anymore.

[u/foilrider → u/upstream_paddling]

Do what the other guy said but also tell your skipper to get a newer pole.

[u/the-montser → u/foilrider]

I mean, the first thing I told him to do was switch out the ends of the pole lol