:: Hi I have a santana 22 in Sydney Australia [Sydney
:: Harbour] which I race as much as possible up to now I
:: have launched my spinacker from a turtle on the bow but
:: have recently started looking at launching it from the
:: companionway using a purpose built bag which can be slid
:: forward into the cabin when not in use do any of your
:: member's launch there kites in this way if so what
:: difficulties have you guy's come accross do you launch
:: around you head sail or under it I have secured my
:: spinacker pole to my boom similiar to skiff's with a
:: pulley attached to the boom for easy retrieval launching
:: from the companionway will mean the fore deckie no
:: longer needs to go forward except after the launch to
:: help with the drop of the head sail and will only need
:: to be there for a few seconds looking forward to you
:: feed back cheers Kerry Lehman

Most of us sailing Santana 22s here on San Francisco Bay launch our spinnakers from the companionway, from bags built for the purpose and suspended there. I, and I believe most everyone else, launch the kite from behind the leach rather than under the foot of the jib. Only thing to remember it there is a fair amount of guy to pull around to get the tack to the pole and the pole aft.