Crusing spinnaker

[Paul]

I have a Hunter 356, all crusing, no racing. Tell me what I should be looking for in a cruising spinnaker. I realize Doyle offers one through the Hunter forum, so maybe the real question is, what attributes of the Doyle make it superior to other brands for my needs, in your view?

 

[Geoffrey Kloster]

Can a conventional spinnaker be converted?

We had an asym spin on our H 23 and loved it. It is compatible with lazy sailing but adds fun. Our new boat, a Pearson 323, came with a conventional spinnaker. We are not interested in learning a new trade and hoisting around large poles and triming several lines etc. Can the old spinnaker be recut to function as a cruising spinnaker?Geoff

 

[Robert DeJong]

356 Spinnaker

We purchased a Quantum Vision 3 Assymetrical for our boat and have been very happy with it. The reason for picking the V3 was for the deeper sailing angles it afforded. It is good from 80 to 160 degrees Apparent. We tack it to a block attached to the outer hole on the anchor roller that is led back through the turning blocks to an additional clutch I added on the port cluster. We use Harken ratchet blocks at the base of the Arch and run the sheets to the secondary winches.(Couldn't afford the spinnaker winches when we bought the boat) We also opted for the ATN sleeve which makes handling easy. We remove it when racing. Figure on approximately $3700 for everything. Good luck!!

 

[Niels]

356 Crusing Spi

I bought Doyle's asymetrical cruising spi last season for my 356. And the dousing sock, which makes the whole process so much simpler. Two people can manage the whole thing in airs up to 12 knots, after that 3 are advised. OK, so the 356 can't run because of the spreaders, but with this sail you can carry it from a broad reach to just forward of the beam, great speed and with the sock, easy to douse and jibe. Doyle's offered a competitive price and design your colors on the web.

 

[Chuck Wayne]

Doyle Spinnakers

Doyle's sails are very well made and designed, their service and support are excellent, and their prices are competitive. The Doyle asymetrical works very well on our 356 and provides a significant downwind performance boost. We use a sock, which makes it very easy to set and dump-even single handed (with autopilot!) we installed spin winches, but you can lead the sheets forward from the turning blocks on the arch to the jib winches.You might also want to consider their UPS (utility power sail), which gives up some downwind performance (less area and flatter) in return for upwind performance (close reaching)in light air. also sets out of a sock, but is a laminate fabric instead of 3/4 oz nylon. we also had Doyle build us a new jib and swingbatten main to replace the Hunter delivery sails and have been very impressed with the quality and support from Doyle. The 356 is the smallest mast section they've tried a swingbatten on, and they made a number of design changes to make it work properly-but they persevered, and made sure that we were happy! the new main/jib adds 1-2 kts upwind, and the chutes add about the same downwind-get you there faster, and are a blast to sail with!

 

[Bruce]

Cruising spinnakers

I have purchased a cruising spinnaker for my Prout Catamaran, and it is beautiful and easy to fly... I've never used one before. I looked every where for writings about using this sail, and have found none that tells me basics about using cruising spinnakers, wind angles and speeds, wing and wing or not, and all the basics one would like to know. I can tell everyone one thing... it is easy to use... pull up the sock and away you go; ease the sheet and pull down the sock, and she disappears. Bruce