Best Gennakker/Cruising Spin for Cat 30

[Harry]

Well now that she's on the water, thinking about how to accessorize our new boat....Thinking about genakker or a crusing spin. My understanding is that the cruising spin is a more full bodied sail, and can only be used on a beam reach or lower, while a Gennaker can be used for some upwind work. Correct, or not?Our lake does not have the steady trades that some of you enjoy, and although we've got some 30 miles of cruising room, not much really big water.At any rate whaddayall think? What sailmaker, etc.?

 

[Bob Camarena]

I Like My Cruising Chute

I have a cruising chute with a sock that I really like. I've never sailed with a gennaker, so can't comment on the trade-offs. We do most of our sailing in a river so downwind is about 50% of our sailing. I like to sail with the chute up and no main. That way, the sail is very forgiving since it doesn't have any competition for the wind. Even though it's a cruising chute and not a "proper" spinnaker with a pole, there's something invigorating about all that brightly colored nylon billowed out in front of the boat.