Readers might be interested in my method for using a spinnaker when cruising. I will describe it in words.
The spinnaker is used when sailing down wind in light conditions. Assume the mainsail is broad off to port, and preferably, held by a preventer. The jib can be taken down or also poled out to port. The spinnaker has three attachment points. The head is hauled up by the spinnaker halliard in the usual way. The tack is fitted with a short line and is attached to one of my two cleats near the foot of the mast. Not at the bow.
Now the spinnaker is held out to the opposite side to the mainsail so it catches the wind, and the sheet is taken outside the shroud to the gunnel (in my case using the jib sheet cam cleat). Now a spinnaker pole is clipped to the sheet near the clew, and the pole is pushed right out. Its inboard end is clipped to a shroud, and the sheet is adjusted to obtain a beautiful, voluminous envelope of sail on the opposite side to the mainsail.
If the wind misbehaves, the spinnaker will often just collapse, or fall aback, but is not particularly dangerous. And the boat goes like a rocket.
My spinnaker is a standard Mirror one but I have cut a triangle off the foot to raise the clew and make visibility better.
Good sailing
David
Curlew