We have had season long problems getting the poles on to the mast, leading to open mutiny and or threats of divorce on several occasions. We have to drop the poles below the boom and with knots in the right place to clear the forestay still have a struggle to get it on even with the snodger block right up under the deck and the lines fully extended and the spinny half out as recommended. If you get it just right then it'l just clip on, but otherwise its a nightmare.Should I chop it at a strategic point in the middle and add a foot or so, can't see what else i can do ?

You need to pull the spinnaker tack out from the chute ALL the way to the mast. Thats how much sail has to be free.

The poles may sag below the boom when stowed, so you have to use elastic (see photo linked below). Perhaps you still have the upper end of the pole uphaul attached to the 'old' point on the mast - it should be attached right up by the jib halyard sheave (assuming you have the new long poles). Does that gibberish make sense?!!

We do that, but its still touch and go, its easier with a bit of rake on, which is why I wondered about lengthening the lines, which are drum tight, when in use I've never had to tighten them with the control lines.....

In my opinion you should have enough slack that you can raise the pole at least a foot higher (30cm) than you normal running pole height.

It sounds as if you don't have that as once the pole is set it can go no higher than you have it.

Making the downhaul longer won't solve all problems with getting the pole on but will eliminate one issue.

Other issues I have encountered
1. Helm hoisting the spinaker on the reach, the filling sail starts to push the pole back - techique should be pole on - then hoist. In my opinion, helm should rarely hoist, the excpetions being a hoist onto a run in lighter conditions when tactically a fast hoist is required, in the light condition the sail can be up an filling as the pole is being attached ( I expect a few will be doing that today and tommorow at Hampton).
2. not getting the corner out far enough
3. knots on spin sheets not in right place
4. not bearing off enough for the hoist
5. crew trying to push the pole out with hand facing up (under arm) instead of hand facing down, especially shorter crews, may need to stand closer to the mast or on the c/board case
6. helm not providing a stable platform for the crew to work on, especially reach to reach gybes where some tactical positioning is required

And I forgot
7. Pole trying to push the pole out straight forward. Obviosly that won't work if the knots are set to keep the pole off. Need tp go out approx 45 degrees

This is quite a common problem.  The height of the pole uphaul connection point on the mast is really important.  Mine is 3920mm above the boom black band.  This allows the poles to lie just above the lowers without the need for elastic.

Hilary, who crews for me, finds that if she has a problem with the pole she brings the outer end well back, almost to the shrouds, while she clips on, then pushes it forward immediately.  I then pull on the snodger. 

Hope this  helps.

John

We have had terrible problems with what you describe and tried all the above suggestions, all with no success.
Some times there would be no effort required whilst other times the pole came up short with a shuddering clunk and no amount of effort could push the pole out.
Our boat is a winder Mk 1 and has a reinforcement frame running across the full width of the underside of the deck about 40mm deep and 200mm in front of the mast. The snodger has an elastic take away tied to a pulley through which the pole down hauls run. As you pushed the pole out the down hauls would start to tighten  pulling the block backwards in the boat against the the pull of the elastic flyaway. The direction of pull of the down hauls and elastic flyaway resulted in the pulley been pulled to the underside of the deck and catching on the reinforcement frame. As it caught and the crew struggled to push aaginst the jammed pole the clew end of the pole would go skywards as the kite filled further jamming the pulley harder against the deck frame. The windier the conditions, the more frequent the jamming. The solution was simple , removed the pully and replaced with a plastic 20mm ring which could not catch or jam on the frame. One very happy crew, silent helm and complete freedom from jamming. 
Its probably not the same issue as you are experiencing, but it frustated us to bits and once the problem identified simple to cure once and for all

Rod

IF ONLY I had known that I would not have had to sell you that boat Rod.

Hi Mike
It did take me a while to find the problem as it only happened in certain situations, but its now cured and Maureens one happy girl.
After a week at Looe and then three days in the Tasar you will be glad to hear I have changed my views!! I supppose you had to be right really as you have sailed them both for a long time.
We aim to come to Whitstable soon to sail with Jules and Rein. Hope to see you then
Rod