I'm thinking of adding a spinnaker next season. I know that a symmetrical spinnaker works best in wind at 180 AWA as compared to a cruising spinnaker. It's been implied in what I've read that a cruising spinnaker is easier to fly. Why is that? Also where would I need to add a block on the mast for either of these, relative to the jib block? Thanks
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Cruising vs symmetrical
For an asymmetric (cruising) spinnaker, you don't need a pole or any of the associated control lines and hardware. You also don't need a bowman to jibe an asymmetric. Asymmetrics are also much better suited for reaching across the wind. That being said, there are a few drawbacks. They can be cumbersome to jibe, especially if you don't have a bowsprit to make space between the luff of the A-sail and the forestay. To prepare for an asymmetric, you need to add a halyard block as high up on the mast as you can...try to get it above where the forestay mounts if possible. It would be optimal, although technically not required, to also have a tackline...a line that pulls down on the tack of the A-sail. You'd need a block at the bow to do this, and somewhere to cleat the line.
For an asymmetric (cruising) spinnaker, you don't need a pole or any of the associated control lines and hardware. You also don't need a bowman to jibe an asymmetric. Asymmetrics are also much better suited for reaching across the wind. That being said, there are a few drawbacks. They can be cumbersome to jibe, especially if you don't have a bowsprit to make space between the luff of the A-sail and the forestay. To prepare for an asymmetric, you need to add a halyard block as high up on the mast as you can...try to get it above where the forestay mounts if possible. It would be optimal, although technically not required, to also have a tackline...a line that pulls down on the tack of the A-sail. You'd need a block at the bow to do this, and somewhere to cleat the line.
What holds down the tack?
I've been on boats that have flown a symetrical spinnaker. But I guess the A-sail confuses me, since you say the tackline isn't required. I found this post from Dave I can't tell from the diagrams I've seen of it, but there must be a tackpoint in the center of it someplace for this tackline to hold the sail down?
I've been on boats that have flown a symetrical spinnaker. But I guess the A-sail confuses me, since you say the tackline isn't required. I found this post from Dave I can't tell from the diagrams I've seen of it, but there must be a tackpoint in the center of it someplace for this tackline to hold the sail down?
A sail
if you are talking about a sail that looks like 'wing&winr' then there may be a tack in the middle, and if so, you may be able to add a luff, up the center, with one of the 'spectra' like 1/4 line to make it furl on its self using a simple furler and special 2 pole assembly.
if you are talking about a sail that looks like 'wing&winr' then there may be a tack in the middle, and if so, you may be able to add a luff, up the center, with one of the 'spectra' like 1/4 line to make it furl on its self using a simple furler and special 2 pole assembly.
The stock asysmetrical spinnaker
Lost me on that bruce. I am just looking at the stock asym that are sold for the Mac C's. I did post a confusing reply earlier, sorry.
Lost me on that bruce. I am just looking at the stock asym that are sold for the Mac C's. I did post a confusing reply earlier, sorry.
'A' spinn
there is a modified sym being advertized in europe that has a luff down the center with a spinner at the top and a basic furler at the bottom. just open it up and let it out to sail and tighten and furl to stop. in one of the british sailing mags, august or sept issue.
there is a modified sym being advertized in europe that has a luff down the center with a spinner at the top and a basic furler at the bottom. just open it up and let it out to sail and tighten and furl to stop. in one of the british sailing mags, august or sept issue.
huh?
Greg, Not sure what everybody else is talking about...luff down the center?? Yes, you can get a furler for CERTAIN A-sails (you can't furl all of them...they have to be cut a certain way to allow it), but that wasn't your question. The tack is held down by the tackline. Click here for a picture. http://na.northsails.com/Cruising_Sails/CruisingHome.htm You can see the red line going from the tack of the spinnaker to the very front of the bow. This line may or may not be adjustable. A non-adjustable tackline is easy to make. Just cut a length of line, attach it to your bow, and attach the other end to the tack of the asymmetric spinnaker before you hoist it. Then you would adjust luff tension with the halyard. (You want a tighter luff when reaching, for a flatter sail, and a looser luff when going downwind, for a baggier sail). If you want an adjustable tackline, you put a block up at your bow, then get a long line, tie one end to the tack of the spinnaker, then lead it through the block and aft to the cockpit and cleat it. Now when you need to adjust the luff tension, you just ease a little bit of this line out. For more info on trimming asymmetrics, this webpage looks pretty informative: http://www.u20class.org/tips/newsl_p1.htm Also, there's a bunch of great overview and tips in last month's Sail magazine (August: http://www.sailmag.com/toc/0805toc/) EDIT: I just found a terrific set of videos online that go over all the aspects of preparing an asymmetric, setting, gybing, and dousing it. Check it out: http://na.northsails.com/video_gen/
Greg, Not sure what everybody else is talking about...luff down the center?? Yes, you can get a furler for CERTAIN A-sails (you can't furl all of them...they have to be cut a certain way to allow it), but that wasn't your question. The tack is held down by the tackline. Click here for a picture. http://na.northsails.com/Cruising_Sails/CruisingHome.htm You can see the red line going from the tack of the spinnaker to the very front of the bow. This line may or may not be adjustable. A non-adjustable tackline is easy to make. Just cut a length of line, attach it to your bow, and attach the other end to the tack of the asymmetric spinnaker before you hoist it. Then you would adjust luff tension with the halyard. (You want a tighter luff when reaching, for a flatter sail, and a looser luff when going downwind, for a baggier sail). If you want an adjustable tackline, you put a block up at your bow, then get a long line, tie one end to the tack of the spinnaker, then lead it through the block and aft to the cockpit and cleat it. Now when you need to adjust the luff tension, you just ease a little bit of this line out. For more info on trimming asymmetrics, this webpage looks pretty informative: http://www.u20class.org/tips/newsl_p1.htm Also, there's a bunch of great overview and tips in last month's Sail magazine (August: http://www.sailmag.com/toc/0805toc/) EDIT: I just found a terrific set of videos online that go over all the aspects of preparing an asymmetric, setting, gybing, and dousing it. Check it out: http://na.northsails.com/video_gen/
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