The Gennaker Standing rigging.
This section describes the Gennaker rigging that normally remains in the dinghy when in the boat park. When buying a second-hand boat this rigging is probably already in place.

 
1.      In use the long Gennaker halyard (the line used to hoist the gennaker) runs from the bow up to a pulley block at the top of the mast and then drops down to a pulley block mounted below the port side of the cross-beam (bridge). It then travels forwards to a moving pulley block and then back to the Spinlock clutch mounted on the port side of the dinghy bridge. A bobble should be on one end (and in use is fastened to the Head of the Gennaker) and the tail is a heat sealed end.
Start the Standing rigging by threading the tail of the Gennaker halyard down through the small pulley block mounted on the bottom front port side of the dinghy cross-beam. Refer to the rigging diagram as you follow this description.

2.    At the port side of the bow is a double block, through the front pulley of which the line that pulls out the bowsprit pole travels. Take the tail of the Gennaker halyard forward and thread it up and around the rearmost pulley of this block.
3.     The tail is then drawn back to the spinlock cleat mounted on top of the dinghy cross-beam. Lead the tail straight through the cleat.
4.    The tail continues on to the block fastened to the front of the centreboard case. Make sure the tail is fed around the block from the back to the front.
5.    The tail continues forwards through the eyelet on the deck and then the eyelet in the rear of the Gennaker storage chute.
6.      The tail continues through to the front of the chute (use a length of electrical wire or a sail batten etc to hook on to the tail and pull it out through to the front of the chute).
7.     At this stage tie off the tail around the furler unit to make sure you don’t lose it. If you are not sailing at this time, tidy the bobble end of the spinnaker halyard and stow it in the rope bag. A short velcro strap is useful to keep the long halyard neat and tidy.

8.    The final stage of this section is to rig the Bowsprit. There are two ropes attached to the Bowsprit. The Tack line, so called because it is fastened to the Tack of the Gennaker and the bowsprit line operating line (See diagram). One end of the Tack line is tied to a point near the beam of the boat, the other travels through the centre of the bowsprit emerging at the front and, when sailing, is tied to the Gennaker Tack. In overview the operating or Downhaul line simply slides the bowsprit pole forwards and backwards along the Tack line, coming to a halt in the forward position when the Tack line is fully extended. This action also causes the Gennaker to be launched or retrieved from the chute in which it is stored. For a more detailed explanation of how the launch system works refer to the section on the Single Line Launch System.

9.     Rig the Bowsprit line first by tying one end to the ring at the rear end of the bowsprit. Lead the other end of the operating line forwards along the side of the Bowsprit and through the lower pulley fastened to the ring adjacent to the Bowsprit front strap. Then lead the end up into the higher pulley fastened to the rear port side of the Furler unit. From this pulley lead the end a short distance towards the stern and around the front pulley of the double block on the Gennaker halyard. Finally return the line to the ring on the Furler unit and tie off. Note that in more recent Xenons Topper altered the layout slightly to eliminate the need for a second pulley block on the port side of the furler unit.

10.      The Tack line protrudes from the front of the bowsprit pole. In most cases this comes ready rigged in the Bowsprit pole. Tie a figure of eight knot about 15cm from the end of the Tack line and either an overhand knot at the very end or put on a bobble. The latter will act as a stopper when the line is attached to the Tack of the Gennaker.
11.     Pull the pole out as far as it will go by locking the Spinlock cleat and pulling against the tied off Gennaker halyard. The free double block will be pulled sternwards as the Bowsprit moves forward. Check that the pole is fully out and that the figure of eight knot is at the end of the pole. Try to keep the distance between the Tack line bobble and the small stopper knot as short as possible so that the Tack of the Gennaker extends as far forwards as possible on the tip of the bowsprit.

12.      The rigging described above can be left in the dinghy when not sailing.