flying a spinnaker is for me the absolutely the most fun to do while sailing. it is a hoot. like all things it take skill attained by lots of practice. practice practice practice
it take three crew to fly an asymmetrical properly
it takes four crew to fly a symmetrical properly
the symmetrical spinnaker is way bigger and way faster than the asymmetrical on a displacement sailboat.
i'm really good at using them, i have three on the alden and two on the ascow one on the cal
i love using them. do it all the time
BUT and it's a big BUT. they are down wind sails. the day sailor goes up wind ish to start his sail so it is easy to get home. or at least reach out and reach back.
so, it's blowing 20 on a beautiful day, you and your crew throw up the 1 1/2 0z big boy and take a deep reach for three hours having a blast. now you are 30 miles down wind of your dock. your going to be late for dinner.
with that said, your sailmaker will know what size to fit your boat.
now on my yawl you add the forward staysail tall boy or the squat short boy with the mizzen staysail too and i'm having a blast. add a kiss from a beautiful woman during all this ...... heaven