Cruising Spinnaker

[R. Young]

An article on the NeilPryde web site on Cruising Spinnaker, shows the usable sailing angles for a cruising spinnaker to be from 55 - 155 degrees (as a function of wind strength). This overlaps part of the range of a typical jib, Is a cruising spinnaker ever preferable over a jib in the range where they overlap (i.e., when going upwind)?R. YoungHunter 37

 

[Ed Allen]

Sure!

Your cruising spin is alot larger than the jib. so when you can carry it (wind speed will let you) you usually will do a bit better that trying to sail a smaller jib.but if it is to windy or you have to go higher into the wind then of course you got to change to the jib.

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Upwind is iffy

Theoretically you'd get better speed and efficiency upwind on the jib, since the spin tends to collapse on itself.Asymetrical spins seem to work best on a beam and broach reach. Beam for light winds, broad for heavier winds. What great fun!

 

[Vic]

The older and baggier the spin gets ...

the less you can cheat up wind. And the more you tighten up on a new spin the faster you age the shape of that spin. So a brand new spin will be more versatile for a while. And if the water is flat and the wind steady you can do amazing things.tradeoffs ... tradeoffs.Vic"seven"

 

[Trevor]

Hold the spin as long as you can!

Especially in light winds, it's fun to hold the spinnaker as long as possible. As the wind shifts forward or you round a point, keep that big colorful balloon out there as long as you can - when it collapses, you'll know you've pushed the envelope! I agree that at some point you lose lift more than you would with the attached luff of a genoa, but we're out there having fun, right?Trevor