Yachting World - July 2018

SUPERSAIL WORLD 70 APRIL-JUNE 2018

length of the sock, combined with the patch
positions, also ensure the three corners of the
sail stay out of the ring in the drop. The total
Deckchute length for a 30m (100ft) performance
yacht or a J-Class is around 13-15m (43-49ft).
On a superyacht the drop line needs to be
led to a powerful winch with a fast line speed.
Ideally it’s taken to a winch
near the mast, but in some
cases there are better options.
On Sorceress, for example, it’s
led to the aft primary winches,
while Lionheart uses the pit
winch, other boats a runner
winch. “It’s good to have 200
metres/minute line speed and
in first gear the winch has to
be able pull around 450kg,”
says Carlos Ruigomez who
helped develop the system on
Lionheart and is working with
Deckchute to install it on a
range of performance yachts.
“With less power, you can drop
the kite slower, but it’s still safer
than a manual drop,” he adds.

FEWER CREW
The people we’ve spoken to
who’ve either helped develop
the system or used it are very enthusiastic.
“For the manual drop, you need a lot of hands,
normally around 15 guys [on a J Class], and
now with the Deckchute, we have sometimes
only three crew, so the change is incredible...
and there is no possibility to lose the kite in the
water,” says Ruigomez. “The safety for me is also
one of the most important reasons and the kite
disappears really quickly.”
“It really is as easy as it looks,” says Sorceress
skipper Daniel Stump, although he cautions that,

as ever, practice, plus knowing your boat and

what the winches are capable of, is important.

Fundamentally, he says handling the sail with a

Deckchute,“...is about the relationship of halyard

speed, along with take down line speed.”

Paul Kelly, skipper of Svea, explained how they

were keen to try out the system after seeing a

Deckchute in use on Lionheart

during the Worlds last autumn.

Svea’s crew had a four-day

training session with Deckchute

in Newport last autumn and

raced with one at the Bucket.

While he agrees a benefit is

that you can carry the kite later

into a mark rounding, Kelly says

that the real gains come from not

having to pack the chute on deck.

“You don’t need 15 people on the

foredeck during a drop and you

are clear to tack and find clear air

straight away.”

DEVELOPMENT

While there has been

much development for the

superyacht arena there are

still improvements that can be

made. “It is still early days and

we improve as we go along,” says

Bartholin. The next change will be in the use of

titanium for the metallic parts, plus an improved

de-connecting mechanism at the lower patch.

One of the disadvantages of the system is

the need for a large sock on deck. Would it be

possible to incorporate a tunnel below the deck

on a new design? “It’s not been done yet and

we would need to consider the pros and cons,”

says Bartholin. Whatever the outcome, it’s clear

that the task of handling superyacht spinnakers,

whether racing or cruising, is changing.

For a manual

drop you need

a lot of hands;

about 15 guys.

With Deckchute

you need three’

THE DECKCHUTE SOCK

SYSTEM SEEN ON THE

DECK OF THE J CLASS

SVEA FROM ABOVE AND

ON BOARD (RIGHT). WILL

A CLEANER UNDER-DECK

SYSTEM FOLLOW FOR

NEW SUPERYACHTS?

‘

DECKCHUTE DESIGNER

HENRIK BARTHOLIN

Carlo Borlenghi