Masthead spinnaker halyard turret and method

A spinnaker halyard turret is affixed to a sail boat's masthead permitting a spinnaker halyard to be lead from within the mast through an exit tube at the top of the mast; then over a pair of sheaves aligned one forward of the other to a point on an arc beyond the perimeter of the mast. The turret has a crane which pivots freely in response to the load and direction of pull established by the sail on the halyard. The halyard maintains a fair lead over the sheaves to the head of the spinnaker sail. The arc through which the crane pivots in normal operation is controlled by limit stops to prevent twisting the halyards internally within the mast. The crane is mounted to a plate which pivots about the halyard exit tube. The plate and the exit tube are supported by bearing surfaces that minimize friction. With a second set of sheaves set adjacent and parallel to those described above, a second spinnaker halyard may be used to set a second spinnaker before the first spinnaker has been doused. With the turret, both halyards maintain their parallel alignment so that any number of subsequent sets and douses may be accomplished without the concern for crossed halyards.