Assym Spinnakers

[Patrick Turner]

I'm contemplating and assymetrical Spinnaker for light off-the-wind saling on my CD36 and wanted to get some feedback from anybody who uses one out there. Just alot of general things like, do you find you use it much for short distances (5nm) or is it too much of a hassel. What do you find to be the "real" usable range of these sails i.e.: beam-to-broad-, close-reach to ddw or what? Anything else that comes to mind when you think of the times you use your Asymm.
And I guess lastly, if you don't use one of these, what have you found that works for light off-the-wind sailing on a CD?

Any info appreciated.

Pat



patrick.t@attbi.com

[Stan]

I've had my eye on an Asym. as well, but have not made the commitment.
We sail a CD 31, with a 150% genoa on roller furling and a Line Control whisker pole from Forespar. I highly recommend a pole for light/moderate offwind sailing. It's a chinese firedrill until you can work out a scheme for deploying/dousing, but it definitely spreads the genoa for the best effect.

Stan & Kerry
S/V Nomad, CD 31 #08



skuhlman@sprynet.com

[len]

pat

i have a cruising spinnaker in a sock, maybe it's a gennaker, or an asymmetrical, or maybe they are pretty much the same thing - the boat is a CD31 - it's a fabulous sail but i almost never use it unless it will be up at least a few hours - it needs a pole in light wind - i do fly it when solo but only if it will be up a long time - it will fill with the wind a little ahead of the beam - it's incredibly powerful and has driven the boat at hull speed on it's own - when conditions are just right i have used it with the yankee, staysail, and main - i have also used it wing and wing with the yankee, one held out with the pole and the other by the boom (running the sheet through a snatch block at the very end of the boom pulled as far of the side as possible)
it's rainbow colored and guests ooh and aah when they see it for the first time - it's the trickiest sail, has gotten wrapped around the headstay for example, and it took some time to learn to keep the lines in the sock straightened out correctly -

on the whole, i wouldn't have a cruising boat without one

len



md.frel@nwh.org

[john doyle]

I'm contemplating and assymetrical Spinnaker for light off-the-wind saling on my CD36 and wanted to get some feedback from anybody who uses one out there. Just alot of general things like, do you find you use it much for short distances (5nm) or is it too much of a hassel. What do you find to be the "real" usable range of these sails i.e.: beam-to-broad-, close-reach to ddw or what? Anything else that comes to mind when you think of the times you use your Asymm.
And I guess lastly, if you don't use one of these, what have you found that works for light off-the-wind sailing on a CD?

I have one, but so far have only used in on an inland lake and if we could leave it up for 5 miles it would be wonderful. I am used to a spinnaker with a pole so this one seems so easy to set & drop. Almost like a jib. We did try it in a little too much wind the first time & it was a fire drill getting it down. I can't wait to try it off shore. We are going to install a spinnaker hallyard so we can hoist it before taking down the jib. This keeps it from twisting around the head stay & back winds it a little till you're ready to roll.
john
CD31 #18 Bonnie Blue

Any info appreciated.

Pat

redzeplin@yahoo.com

[Don Carr]

Pat; The Asym is the best piece of equipment a cruiser can have. They really help the CD's in lighter airs (up to 15knots) from about 50 degrees to a very broad reach. They DO NOT work very well ddw you need a sym for that. I do not have a sock but if you set up the sail properly (tacked with the head aft of the shrouds) turn ddw so the main blankets the sail and hoist away.
Just remember these sails don't tack you must jib to a new course...this can be tricky but after a few practice runs not a problem
As far as lowering..run ddw so the main blankets the sail and retrieve as you lower..obviously the complexity of this operation is a function of wind velocity.

FWIW



carrds@us.ibm.com

[Ben Thomas]

I'm contemplating and assymetrical Spinnaker for light off-the-wind saling on my CD36 and wanted to get some feedback from anybody who uses one out there. Just alot of general things like, do you find you use it much for short distances (5nm) or is it too much of a hassel. What do you find to be the "real" usable range of these sails i.e.: beam-to-broad-, close-reach to ddw or what? Anything else that comes to mind when you think of the times you use your Asymm.
And I guess lastly, if you don't use one of these, what have you found that works for light off-the-wind sailing on a CD?

Any info appreciated.

Pat

Pat, I'am running a gennaker (asy) from north sails on my c d 30, I do a lot of single handing and having the sock-snuffer makes deploying this sail a breeze, hah! as well bringing it in in a safe manner. Last fall I was coming in over the columbia river bar eastbound with the tide beginning to flood, winds SE at 16-20knots, swells at 5-6' that was a thrill. SOG on gps read 8.7 knots. perfect conditions, the perfect sail and the perfect boat. best regards, Ben



bt@benthomaslandscapers.com