A spinnaker raising and dousing system for a sailboat having a mast that extends uprightly from the sailboat comprising:
- a spinnaker sail having a head and two lower corners that is disposed generally fore of the mast when deployed, the sail having;
- a halyard attached to the head of the sail arranged for hoisting and securing the spinnaker in the raised position on the mast;
- at least two sheets attached to respective lower corners arranged for controlling the sail;
- a first anchor attached to an upper portion of the sail;
- a second anchor attached to a lower portion of the sail;
- a retrieval line connected to the first anchor;
- and
- a remote releasable line lock device attached to the second anchor comprising;
- a housing having a base and a cover, the housing having a width;
- opposed retrieval line openings in the housing for the retrieval line, the retrieval line passing longitudinally through the housing and the retrieval line openings;
- first and second cams on the base on opposite sides of the retrieval line, at least the first cam being movably mounted on the base and biased toward the second cam and having a gripping surface opposite the second cam, the first cam and second cam being positioned on the base to grip the retrieval line when force is applied to the retrieval line in a first direction relative to the housing, and to allow the retrieval line to pass through the first cam and second cam when force is applied to the line in a second opposite direction relative to the housing;
- whereby the remote releasable line lock device moves with the retrieval line when force is applied to the retrieval line in the first direction, and allows the retrieval line to pass through the first and second cams when force is applied to the retrieval line in a second opposite direction relative to the housing;
- at least the first cam further having a cam actuator extending outwardly from the housing through a cam actuator opening in the housing, the cam actuator being operable to move the first cam gripping surface out of engagement with retrieval line to release the retrieval line;
- and
- a remote release device attached to the sailboat comprising:
- a first funnel portion having a mouth with a diameter larger than the width of the housing with the at least one cam actuator extending outwardly from the housing;
- a second portion connected to the funnel portion sized to engage and operate the at least one cam actuator when the housing is positioned in the second portion and thereby release the retrieval line;
- and
- a remote release device opening in the second portion opposite the funnel portion positioned for the retrieval line to pass through the first funnel portion and the second funnel portion;
- and
- a spinnaker control device;
- the retrieval line extending from the first anchor, through the remote release line lock device, through the spinnaker control device and through the remote release device and the remote release device opening.