I recently sailed with a friend on his J-105 and I really like the simplicity of the asymmetrical spinnaker. These have become very popular in recent years. The J-105 has a bowsprit but lots of boats use asyms. Is the bowsprit critical to the asymmetrical spinnaker?
Asym with no bowsprit?
- Thread starter markwbird
- Start date
Hello,
The bowsprit is not required but allows you to use a bigger sail. I had a Newport 28 that came with an asym in a sock. I flew that sail all the time and that boat did not have a sprit. I put a block on the anchor roller and used that for the adjustable tack line. It worked well but I only flew the chute in light air.
Barry
The bowsprit is not required but allows you to use a bigger sail. I had a Newport 28 that came with an asym in a sock. I flew that sail all the time and that boat did not have a sprit. I put a block on the anchor roller and used that for the adjustable tack line. It worked well but I only flew the chute in light air.
Barry
Also depends on your intended usage. Asyms on a conventional displacement keelboat do not sail well downwind. You need to stay above about 140 deg apparent to keep it flying and not collapsing behind the main. Real pain in the butt actually. If cruising long distance downwind, you might even drop your main and go Asym alone. If you plan to race , go with a symetrical chute and pole. You can still use a sock on the spin for easier hoist/douse.
The j105 has an very large asym. Having the pole helps it get out of the shadow of the main and also enables you the crew to do "inside" jibes more easily.
If you use your anchor roller as a tack attachment point, you really need to make sure that it can take the load.
I would be very hesitant to use it on a roller like in Kermit's picture. It's going to be one big lever arm and pull right up!
Also, I would not use it without having the main up even though it seems simpler. If the wind picks up and you have to douse it quickly, it is easy to head downwind and luff it behind the the main to depower it.
If you use your anchor roller as a tack attachment point, you really need to make sure that it can take the load.
I would be very hesitant to use it on a roller like in Kermit's picture. It's going to be one big lever arm and pull right up!
Also, I would not use it without having the main up even though it seems simpler. If the wind picks up and you have to douse it quickly, it is easy to head downwind and luff it behind the the main to depower it.
My spinnaker is undersized since it was built for my H23. Didn't include it in the sale so I could keep on flying it on my H260. So far I've flown it twice with a double block that I put together between the pulpit. I'll try to get good pictures next time I fly it. Crazy Dave has seen my system in person and thinks it's ok but not great.
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The other problem I see with using your anchor roller is its position. The Asym would be right next to the furled genny and not in front of it. Frankly, I don't think that will work.
Flying it off the bow pulpit is a good option in many cases for a downwid asymm. The pulpit is pretty darned strong compared to the forces, considering it's got 4 legs and at least12 through bolts holding it down, preferable with some big backing washers or plates. On many older style bow pulpits, it positions the tack far enough forward of the forestay to do inside jibes, about as far forward as a 2-3 foot sprit . Having a spinnaker thats about 2-3 feet too short on the luff should make it fit the available hoisting space very well
As sont as your pulpit is sturdy and will backed, I say "Go for it".
I fly my asym without a sprit.... no problem. I never clip it to the forestay..... The adjustable tack line is reaved through a block shackled to the forward most hole on the stem head. The farther forward the apparent wind, the lower I pull down the tack to add more luff tension. If I'm broad reaching, the tack is at least 3 feet off the deck and free flying. As I said, I can clip it to the forestay, or use a "tacker" type device if it were roller furling, but I never do it anymore.... because I don't want to go forward for the attachment. Even if I have crew to go forward to hook it to the forestay, I think it works better if left loose.
That said...... I am seriously making plans to install a Selden bow sprit and a continuous line furler. The "snuffer" is unnecessary for a boat under 30 feet. A take down line attached to the center of the chute is a much more efficient way of getting the sail doused.
That said...... I am seriously making plans to install a Selden bow sprit and a continuous line furler. The "snuffer" is unnecessary for a boat under 30 feet. A take down line attached to the center of the chute is a much more efficient way of getting the sail doused.
I fly mine off a block on a bail on the anchor roller and don't have any trouble. That being said, this boat is a 25 footer with a conservatively sized spinnaker. As Joe wants to do, I have the Selden sprit on my 35 footer and it's the cat's meow!
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Kermit,
If you're confident the anchor roller is solid enough, you could use a boom bail instead of your spring-loaded pin. Then use a short line to secure your anchor.
If you want a stronger attachment point, install a D-type shackle in the forward hole of your head-stay attachment. Put a sheave on that shackle and you should be good-to-go.
Look at attached pictures to view the options mentioned and the anchor attachment line.
If you're confident the anchor roller is solid enough, you could use a boom bail instead of your spring-loaded pin. Then use a short line to secure your anchor.
If you want a stronger attachment point, install a D-type shackle in the forward hole of your head-stay attachment. Put a sheave on that shackle and you should be good-to-go.
Look at attached pictures to view the options mentioned and the anchor attachment line.
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Dang, Claude! Thanks for taking the time to not only explain this but to create illustrations. This is EXACTLY what I needed.
I don't know if markwbird is ok with the thread drift here but please know that I have learned alot from it. I still plan to use what I have and will post pictures the next time I fly my spinnaker. I don't fly it often, though. And it's always stressful. But dang I love flying it.
Thanks again!
I don't know if markwbird is ok with the thread drift here but please know that I have learned alot from it. I still plan to use what I have and will post pictures the next time I fly my spinnaker. I don't fly it often, though. And it's always stressful. But dang I love flying it.
Thanks again!
On almost any sized boat, I would be wary of flying an asym tacked to any spot not designed for that purpose. In particular, bow rollers. If you bow roller has more length extended that it has bolted to the deck, you're asking for trouble. That means you Kermit! The only way to address this is to use a bob-stay to the bowstem to take the extra load. Many new boat with bow rollers designed as asym tack points have hard bobstays built in.
You might be ok in less then say 8 knots but into the teens and you start tearing stuff off. This include bow pulpits.
You might be ok in less then say 8 knots but into the teens and you start tearing stuff off. This include bow pulpits.
+2 Jackdaw. THe Legend-series Hunters have long anchor rollers which look (and are) ideal for flying an A-sail. A couple we know took their 40.5 from Long Beach to Australia and had a code zero on a furler off the bail. All went well for the first 2500 miles until he noticed it trying to lift off the deck. Fortunately, the boat has a mooring D ring on the bow, so he rigged a bobstay and no more problem. Until the whale. Another story.