Cruising Spinaker

[Don]

This isn't really a sail trim question but I would appreciate your comments. I am a cruiser, not a racer, but I like to get the most out of the boat I possibly can and always try and sail versus motor if I can manage over 3 knots in the general direction of my destination. (Exceptions are when approaching happy hour or at the insistence of the 1st mate)I had a cruising spinnaker which I shredded a couple of times and do not think it is worth repairing. I am looking at used spinnakers and am seeing some which are 1.5 oz. or even 1.2 oz. material versus the norm which is .75oz. Is there certain wind ranges where a 1.5 oz. will not be useful? Is there recommende ranges for certain weights?Any feedback appreciated,Don

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

0.75 by definition

The thing is so big that it has to act like a parachute, which is perhaps why it's built like one. You can buy used asyms inexpensively on any of the sailnet etc websites. They're a must for going downwind once you've had that exhilerating tack upwind. Here’s an easy-to-make bowsprit, seats in the anchor locker. This will throw the spin ahead of the main, less blanketing. Tack line and 2 sheets permanently deployed for quick setup.(Note that the link here has 2 pages of pix and directions.)

 

[George B., s/v Freya]

A-kites

Don, a couple of quick questions: How big is your boat? Size of your spinnaker? How old is the sail? Can you supply some details on how you “shredded” the sail? For most applications and boats, the .75 oz is the proper cloth weight for most applications. Heavier cloth will make the sail harder to fill and keep drawing in lighter winds. The .75 oz cloth has a wide wind range that covers most of an average sailor’s needs. My North GP2 is .75 oz (for a Catalina 34) and is rated for apparent winds up to 18 kts which equates to true wind in the mid-twenties. I have flown .75 oz A-kites when true wind was blowing in the thirties, but I don’t recommend it as you can get seriously overpowered. If you go the 1.5 oz route, you will want a “shy kite” like the GP-3 which has slopped shoulders. Unfortunately, shy kites and reachers are extremely difficult to keep inflated when you are going deep in light winds. Is your spinnaker ripping because it’s catching on something? You may want to buy a bunch of rigging tape and pad your spreader boots and anything else that it might catch on. Usually, spinnakers aren’t used much and even a used one will have plenty of life left in it. They will age because of stress and UV exposure. You will know when your sail gets to this point because when they blow, there won’t be enough sail left to take back to your sail maker.