Is sailing downwind a rush for you... or a point of sail to be endured? Are you concerned about rolling, pitching, or uncontrolled jibes? Do you use a preventer to make sure the boom stays where it's supposed to be? How do you feel about spinnakers? Conventional or asymetric? Do you have one? Would you buy one? Is it worth it? What are the pros and cons? Tell us about your downwind sailing then take the Quick Quiz on the home page. (Discussion topic and quiz by Warren Milberg)
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Asymmetrical for me
Asym spin is easier to fly, with no need for a pole or crew up front. It's just a big genoa. After eight years, mine finally ripped because I caught the leading edge on the uppper spreader. Cost $400 to repair. Quite aside from the thrill of flying a spin, you're the best-looking boat out there. Just a hunch, but I estimate that only 30% of sailboats have a spin, and half of them haven't tried it yet.
Asym spin is easier to fly, with no need for a pole or crew up front. It's just a big genoa. After eight years, mine finally ripped because I caught the leading edge on the uppper spreader. Cost $400 to repair. Quite aside from the thrill of flying a spin, you're the best-looking boat out there. Just a hunch, but I estimate that only 30% of sailboats have a spin, and half of them haven't tried it yet.
When I can!
My 1984 O'day 30, STARGAZER, came with a colorful asymetrical spinnaker but no hardware to fly it properly! I added a pole, chocks, mast track, and block and was ecstatically happy to fly it for the first time last year! WOW! Lots of fun! But I still won't fly it without at least one other experianced crew member on board to help. Bill on STARGAZER
My 1984 O'day 30, STARGAZER, came with a colorful asymetrical spinnaker but no hardware to fly it properly! I added a pole, chocks, mast track, and block and was ecstatically happy to fly it for the first time last year! WOW! Lots of fun! But I still won't fly it without at least one other experianced crew member on board to help. Bill on STARGAZER
One came with the boat
Which I believe is asymetrical.I really don't know the differance.I'm kinda apprehensive about putting it up.Something about doin it for the first time and know nothing about it. Theres no pole, just some short lines and it comes in a "sock".Now it has been in the garage for over two years.One day I'll get the ...gumption to haul it up and see what it does for the thrill of it.Noboy on my lake flys one,so it's difficult to seek help.I'm still working on the rigging.I really don't like the jibs lines rubbing and putting pressure on the lifelines while under sail.I'll get it fingered out.Spinakers are sure pretty to look at.I'll get it flown before the season is over. Keep it up, Ctskip
Which I believe is asymetrical.I really don't know the differance.I'm kinda apprehensive about putting it up.Something about doin it for the first time and know nothing about it. Theres no pole, just some short lines and it comes in a "sock".Now it has been in the garage for over two years.One day I'll get the ...gumption to haul it up and see what it does for the thrill of it.Noboy on my lake flys one,so it's difficult to seek help.I'm still working on the rigging.I really don't like the jibs lines rubbing and putting pressure on the lifelines while under sail.I'll get it fingered out.Spinakers are sure pretty to look at.I'll get it flown before the season is over. Keep it up, Ctskip
I agree with Cat38
The spinnaker is just another sail. Like a gear in a car's transmission, it gets used whenever conditions allow. I single-hand quite a bit and still fly the chute. Gybinbg can be interesting when I'm by myself, but not that big a deal.
I'm going to add a second spinnaker to the inventory this year. Basically, whenever the wind is aft of about 140 degrees for more than 10 minutes ... the kite goes up!
The spinnaker is just another sail. Like a gear in a car's transmission, it gets used whenever conditions allow. I single-hand quite a bit and still fly the chute. Gybinbg can be interesting when I'm by myself, but not that big a deal.
I'm going to add a second spinnaker to the inventory this year. Basically, whenever the wind is aft of about 140 degrees for more than 10 minutes ... the kite goes up!Whenever & whichever I can
The area where I sail is pretty much upwind/downwind, very little reaching, so kites get used a lot. I've got a total of 4 kites, both symetrical and asym kites, from a small "shy kite" to an oversize monster. When I have the crew for it, or the winds are light enough for what crew I do have not to be overwhelmed, I use the symetricals. When I don't have enough crew, or if I'm just being lazy, the asym goes up. The best way to learn spinnakers is to crew on somebody elses's boat that uses one. You'll learn fast, and figure out what type you want, and when you want to use it.
The area where I sail is pretty much upwind/downwind, very little reaching, so kites get used a lot. I've got a total of 4 kites, both symetrical and asym kites, from a small "shy kite" to an oversize monster. When I have the crew for it, or the winds are light enough for what crew I do have not to be overwhelmed, I use the symetricals. When I don't have enough crew, or if I'm just being lazy, the asym goes up. The best way to learn spinnakers is to crew on somebody elses's boat that uses one. You'll learn fast, and figure out what type you want, and when you want to use it.
spinny
My '94 OC400 came with a spinny pole and a block on the mast track, but no sail. The PO used the boat a drinking platform. I had a gennaker on my previous boat, a Catalina 30 that the buyer didn't want and flew it on the Bene. It was undersized but still pulled like a locomotive. It was a hassle to set up, though and when I bought a whisker pole from a dock neighbor I used that to pole out the genoa. I sailed DDW from San Diego almost all the way to Turtle Bay MX wing-on-wing like that, doing 8+ knots for two days and nights dead before 20 knots of wind. It was a blast! I put the gennaker back in the bag and hardly ever use it any more, except for a Newport-Ensenda race on a buddy's boat.
My '94 OC400 came with a spinny pole and a block on the mast track, but no sail. The PO used the boat a drinking platform. I had a gennaker on my previous boat, a Catalina 30 that the buyer didn't want and flew it on the Bene. It was undersized but still pulled like a locomotive. It was a hassle to set up, though and when I bought a whisker pole from a dock neighbor I used that to pole out the genoa. I sailed DDW from San Diego almost all the way to Turtle Bay MX wing-on-wing like that, doing 8+ knots for two days and nights dead before 20 knots of wind. It was a blast! I put the gennaker back in the bag and hardly ever use it any more, except for a Newport-Ensenda race on a buddy's boat.
Go Fly a Kite!
On Wandering C's, a Pearson 33, I fly a "Kite"! The spinnaker, kept when I sold a New Horizon 25, is way too small for the Pearson. Rather than trying to use this sail in a normal fashion, I attach a halyard and two long sheets pull it out of it's sock and away we go! The sail is set so it flies with the head 10 to 15 feet off the mast and sheets, lead well aft, adjusted for weather and control. My kite is very effective; up, away, out of the mast's shadow, free to fill and pull. No pole, guys, preventers, or hassle. When it need to come down; dump the wind, pull the sock down and whatever comes next. Rather unorthodox, I sail for fun, mostly alone, never entered in a race so no rules...
On Wandering C's, a Pearson 33, I fly a "Kite"! The spinnaker, kept when I sold a New Horizon 25, is way too small for the Pearson. Rather than trying to use this sail in a normal fashion, I attach a halyard and two long sheets pull it out of it's sock and away we go! The sail is set so it flies with the head 10 to 15 feet off the mast and sheets, lead well aft, adjusted for weather and control. My kite is very effective; up, away, out of the mast's shadow, free to fill and pull. No pole, guys, preventers, or hassle. When it need to come down; dump the wind, pull the sock down and whatever comes next. Rather unorthodox, I sail for fun, mostly alone, never entered in a race so no rules...
Drifting dreamboat
My 1974 Oday 27 came with a colorful kite which I believe is called a Drifter. I'm not really sure if it's all that different from an Asym, but I just leave my big clunky pole at home and hank on this lovely fancy jib, in essence. It seems rather old school but provided some of the most enjoyable downwind I've had on my new-to-me old boat. I had 3 utterly novice crew so I dashed around setting everything up and just hollered "fly that kite!" and "let her belly up!". The new crew understood just fine. A regular spinnaker requires much more practice than this, but that's real fun memories of a race crew I used to be with. I'll use this anytime the conditions and run look good enough, it's the best.
My 1974 Oday 27 came with a colorful kite which I believe is called a Drifter. I'm not really sure if it's all that different from an Asym, but I just leave my big clunky pole at home and hank on this lovely fancy jib, in essence. It seems rather old school but provided some of the most enjoyable downwind I've had on my new-to-me old boat. I had 3 utterly novice crew so I dashed around setting everything up and just hollered "fly that kite!" and "let her belly up!". The new crew understood just fine. A regular spinnaker requires much more practice than this, but that's real fun memories of a race crew I used to be with. I'll use this anytime the conditions and run look good enough, it's the best.
Wing on Wing...
with a preventer on the main. Chutes are for racing; as a cruiser, never had much need for them. If the wind is to light and I want to get somewhere just turn on the iron Jenny.
with a preventer on the main. Chutes are for racing; as a cruiser, never had much need for them. If the wind is to light and I want to get somewhere just turn on the iron Jenny.
Alan, An AYS?
Does PHRF help or hurt you with that? Do you fly a SYM when racing? The pole looks great. The reason I ask is that for predominately long down-wind races here, it seems a SYM makes better boat speed VMG. While my vintage Legend makes flying an ASY pretty easy, tacked to the anchor roller, if I were to go to that much expense and trouble, I would think a SYM would provide better performance. There is (generally) no class division between ASM and SYM altho some of the larger races are beginning to split classes. Rick D.
Does PHRF help or hurt you with that? Do you fly a SYM when racing? The pole looks great. The reason I ask is that for predominately long down-wind races here, it seems a SYM makes better boat speed VMG. While my vintage Legend makes flying an ASY pretty easy, tacked to the anchor roller, if I were to go to that much expense and trouble, I would think a SYM would provide better performance. There is (generally) no class division between ASM and SYM altho some of the larger races are beginning to split classes. Rick D.
Chutes
I like beam reaches with my asymm. But because it requires a lot of attention and the ease of a stall, my wife just detests the effort. I use it with my racing crew. Also, I have noticed that it works best in less than 10 knots of wind. Over 10 and all that happens is a pretty sailboat with excessive heel. Switch back to the 150 the boat speeds up and sails more comfortably. I am constantly amazed with the number of boats out on the water with 15 knots of wind and all they fly is the headsail while the mainsail is neatly packed into its boot.
I like beam reaches with my asymm. But because it requires a lot of attention and the ease of a stall, my wife just detests the effort. I use it with my racing crew. Also, I have noticed that it works best in less than 10 knots of wind. Over 10 and all that happens is a pretty sailboat with excessive heel. Switch back to the 150 the boat speeds up and sails more comfortably. I am constantly amazed with the number of boats out on the water with 15 knots of wind and all they fly is the headsail while the mainsail is neatly packed into its boot.
Often
When racing, we fly our chute in anything less than about 20 knots, but we are still learning. When singlehanded, or if the wind is screaming, I put up the asym. Just did a single handed race last Saturday and flew the asym. I have put the "sock" away; it was a pain in the drain. Don't knock spinnakers until you have tried 'em!
When racing, we fly our chute in anything less than about 20 knots, but we are still learning. When singlehanded, or if the wind is screaming, I put up the asym. Just did a single handed race last Saturday and flew the asym. I have put the "sock" away; it was a pain in the drain. Don't knock spinnakers until you have tried 'em!
How does a preventer work?
We're in our second season with our O'Day 25. My wife is terrified of sailing downwind after our sailing instructor last year told her about accidental jibes, broaches and the like. Last weekend we had to go a significant distance dead downwind, but she was too nervous to take the helm long enough for me to rig the pole to wing out the jib. So we just limped along with a limp jib. How does a preventer work? How can I rig one up? Anyone have pictures or a diagram?
We're in our second season with our O'Day 25. My wife is terrified of sailing downwind after our sailing instructor last year told her about accidental jibes, broaches and the like. Last weekend we had to go a significant distance dead downwind, but she was too nervous to take the helm long enough for me to rig the pole to wing out the jib. So we just limped along with a limp jib. How does a preventer work? How can I rig one up? Anyone have pictures or a diagram?
Steve, A preventer is just a line run from
the end of the boom to a point near the bow. Mine is set up with a single block on the end of the boom, fairleads on the boom back to a turning block on the base of the mast. The is a large loop in the boom end of the line that is taken forward and dropped onto a cleat. the other end is led to the cockpit When I have the main trimed as I want then I set up the preventer to maintain a little tension on the main sheet. Then I can pole the jib out on the other side. When I have to gybe I remove the preventer and sheet the main in tight, make my turn and reset the preventer for the new tack. If I don't have very far to go I just pole out the jib and sheet the main tight. I have heard of systems that used two lines port and starboard run to turning blocks near the bow and back to the cockpit. But I think that the slack line would be a pain.
the end of the boom to a point near the bow. Mine is set up with a single block on the end of the boom, fairleads on the boom back to a turning block on the base of the mast. The is a large loop in the boom end of the line that is taken forward and dropped onto a cleat. the other end is led to the cockpit When I have the main trimed as I want then I set up the preventer to maintain a little tension on the main sheet. Then I can pole the jib out on the other side. When I have to gybe I remove the preventer and sheet the main in tight, make my turn and reset the preventer for the new tack. If I don't have very far to go I just pole out the jib and sheet the main tight. I have heard of systems that used two lines port and starboard run to turning blocks near the bow and back to the cockpit. But I think that the slack line would be a pain.
Drifter
We have a light air drifter - really a colorful 185% genoa - that we set with a whisker pole (see Forespar site below). We set our course to about 165 degrees downwind, and pole out the drifter to windward with the mail fully out in the opposite direction. It works really well up to about 20 knots downwind. Since it takes some effort to set up, we use it only for long downwind runs.
We have a light air drifter - really a colorful 185% genoa - that we set with a whisker pole (see Forespar site below). We set our course to about 165 degrees downwind, and pole out the drifter to windward with the mail fully out in the opposite direction. It works really well up to about 20 knots downwind. Since it takes some effort to set up, we use it only for long downwind runs.
Asymetrical
My Hunter 34 came with an akite. We have used it twice. We are sophomore sailors on SF Bay. We have just moved up to Alameda and hope to hook up with more experienced sailors to learn how to fly the spinnaker properly. The two times we used it it was rigged like a Genoa and definitely had much more power than our 130 jib. We have been warned by other sailors about the higher chance of a broach so we only fly it in lite winds(10-12knts). From the description about the preventer it sounds like the intent is to keep the boom from flipping from one side of the boat to the other? We also don't know what a preventer is, but it sounds like it could be useful downwind wing and wing. Thanks in advance for any input. Joey & Robyn
My Hunter 34 came with an akite. We have used it twice. We are sophomore sailors on SF Bay. We have just moved up to Alameda and hope to hook up with more experienced sailors to learn how to fly the spinnaker properly. The two times we used it it was rigged like a Genoa and definitely had much more power than our 130 jib. We have been warned by other sailors about the higher chance of a broach so we only fly it in lite winds(10-12knts). From the description about the preventer it sounds like the intent is to keep the boom from flipping from one side of the boat to the other? We also don't know what a preventer is, but it sounds like it could be useful downwind wing and wing. Thanks in advance for any input. Joey & Robyn
preventer
An easy way to rig a preventer is to put a quick release clip on your boom vang where it connects to the mast.. When sailing downwind on a wing and wing, ease the boom vang, unclip, and reclip to the toe rail on the lee side if you have a toe rail. If not, you can use the base of the lifeline stantions, or install eye bolts, as I had to do. No chance of an accidental gibe, no mess of extra lines running crisscross to the bow, and an enjoyable down wind run!
An easy way to rig a preventer is to put a quick release clip on your boom vang where it connects to the mast.. When sailing downwind on a wing and wing, ease the boom vang, unclip, and reclip to the toe rail on the lee side if you have a toe rail. If not, you can use the base of the lifeline stantions, or install eye bolts, as I had to do. No chance of an accidental gibe, no mess of extra lines running crisscross to the bow, and an enjoyable down wind run!
Asymetric for reaching; Preventer
In light air, our asymetric is the best foresail with the actual/absolute wind 60 degrees off our bow. It is at its best at all points of reaching. We have also had good luck running dead downwind with the asymetric flying wing and wing with the main. This sail converts about 20% of our cruising time from the iron genny to sailing. It has been even more in the light wind running we have seen so much of this year. I have to observe that once we are out of a close reach, the asymetric maintains its shape much better than a big (130% to 155%) genny, providing much more drive and less healing than a big genny, especially with the wind aft of the beam. As Ross said, the preventer is rigged from the end of the boom to a point forward on the boat - we use our rope vang, which has snap shackles on both ends to allow easy relocation to the end of the boom and to the toe-rail forward. The first huge value is like the name - it prevents a gybe of the main for any reason as the boat rocks in following seas (or motor boat wakes.) The other value is that it works with the mainsheet to vang the boom down, thus maintaining sail shape with the boom out as far as it will go. David Lady Lillie
In light air, our asymetric is the best foresail with the actual/absolute wind 60 degrees off our bow. It is at its best at all points of reaching. We have also had good luck running dead downwind with the asymetric flying wing and wing with the main. This sail converts about 20% of our cruising time from the iron genny to sailing. It has been even more in the light wind running we have seen so much of this year. I have to observe that once we are out of a close reach, the asymetric maintains its shape much better than a big (130% to 155%) genny, providing much more drive and less healing than a big genny, especially with the wind aft of the beam. As Ross said, the preventer is rigged from the end of the boom to a point forward on the boat - we use our rope vang, which has snap shackles on both ends to allow easy relocation to the end of the boom and to the toe-rail forward. The first huge value is like the name - it prevents a gybe of the main for any reason as the boat rocks in following seas (or motor boat wakes.) The other value is that it works with the mainsheet to vang the boom down, thus maintaining sail shape with the boom out as far as it will go. David Lady Lillie
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