The sock is a long cloth tube (often with a hard shell "bell" at the bottom) that contains about 90% of the a-spin. The head is attached to the top of the sock with a strong swivel and that is hoisted aloft to a 'proper' attachment at the masthead. You really don't want to use a spare Genoa halyard for this.

The tack is affixed to the boat a number of different ways. The clew gets one or more sheets (depending on your preference for jibing).

To use the sock, you ensure the tack and sheets are made, keep control of the 'control' line (which raises the sock), then hoist the socked sail on the halyard. When ready, you use the control line to hoist the sock and let the wind fill the a-spin. Someone should tend the sheet as you do this, if possible.

Once the sock is all the way up (don't jam it up there to gain the last few inches), tie off the control line and trim the sheet as needed. A downhaul is a good thing, too.

To douse the a-spin, I depower the sail by easing the sheet and turning the boat to blanket the sail by the mainsail somewhat. Use the control line to bring the sock down and capture the a-spin inside as the sheet is eased. At that point, you can lower the sock and sail with the halyard.

Some people 'blow' the tack to let the a-spin fly out in front of the boat before bringing down the sock. I have never needed to do this, but can do so if needed.

Hope that helped.

Mark,

North Sails has a good video that shows the use of the sock...

[url]http://na1.northsails.com/video_gen/video_jukebox.taf?_function=flash[/url]

Your gear may be a little different as far as tack line or tack strap.

ATN also has a video...(the video quality isn't as good but the idea is the same)

[url]http://www.atninc.com/sleeve.html[/url]

ATN's shows the tack being released but I am like Duane and haven't had a need to do this.

As far as the sheets, I run them for an inside jibe. (Between the spin and the genoa, over the tack strap - mainly so I don't need to worry about running them over if they get away during a jibe. This method does require a little practice/timing on the jibe since there is less space for the sail to pass through)

Or you can just douse the sail, jibe, and reset.

Mark
If you do go with the sock as everyone stated use the ATN. All their lines for the sock are internal (meaning nothing outside of the sock) They are a little morein price but they are the best. We have been using one for a couple of years now. It is QUICK , SIMPLE you cant ask for more

Good Luck

I paid a little extra for an ATN sock and am VERY happy with it.