So I finished my Sailrite Spinnaker Kit and it works great, but what windspeed is the limit for 3/4 oz cloth?
Limit for Lite Spinnaker?
- Thread starter saltygator
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Doubt the limit is your sail
Our asymetric will force our h27 into a round-up before any damage occurs to the sail. This has happened twice approaching Erie, PA, from the west on a southwest wind around 20 knots. I believe our sail weight is the same as yours. In tension, nylon is incredibly strong! David Lady Lillie
Our asymetric will force our h27 into a round-up before any damage occurs to the sail. This has happened twice approaching Erie, PA, from the west on a southwest wind around 20 knots. I believe our sail weight is the same as yours. In tension, nylon is incredibly strong! David Lady Lillie
How long did it take you to make ?
Just curious how it went to make one of these and what your experience was dealing with this project.
Just curious how it went to make one of these and what your experience was dealing with this project.
if you used traditional 3/4 oz nylon...
...you shouldn't fly the chute beyond 18 knots apparent. Note that apparent winds downwind will be less than true winds. In other words, if you're DDW in 25 knots true moving 7 knots SOG, your apparent wind speed will be 18 knots. However, once you begin reaching with the sail, apparent wind speeds equal true wind speeds somewhere around a beam reach. Which means you don't want to carry that chute forward of a beam reach in anything but light air. Some of the newer high-tech .7 oz nylons will carry the sail in a bit more breeze, but the question becomes, why? In anything more than 25 knots true, you shouldn't need a kite to achieve hull speed regardless of whether you're reaching or DDW.
...you shouldn't fly the chute beyond 18 knots apparent. Note that apparent winds downwind will be less than true winds. In other words, if you're DDW in 25 knots true moving 7 knots SOG, your apparent wind speed will be 18 knots. However, once you begin reaching with the sail, apparent wind speeds equal true wind speeds somewhere around a beam reach. Which means you don't want to carry that chute forward of a beam reach in anything but light air. Some of the newer high-tech .7 oz nylons will carry the sail in a bit more breeze, but the question becomes, why? In anything more than 25 knots true, you shouldn't need a kite to achieve hull speed regardless of whether you're reaching or DDW.
Rule of thumb
If you can see whitecaps, you don't need a spinnaker. Anything blowing 12-14 mph will be plenty of following wind to carry you downwind. If you want the thrill of the spinnaker without risking an accident in 12-14, simply clip your spinnaker sheet to your jib/genoa to get the same effect.
If you can see whitecaps, you don't need a spinnaker. Anything blowing 12-14 mph will be plenty of following wind to carry you downwind. If you want the thrill of the spinnaker without risking an accident in 12-14, simply clip your spinnaker sheet to your jib/genoa to get the same effect.
My humble opinion-
a sailboat never looks better than when she's flying a colorful kite. Makes the stinkpots jealous that a boat doing 6 knots can garner so much more attention than their twin outboards! For me, it just harkens back to the days of brave sailors as men among men! Saltygator, looking good... cup
a sailboat never looks better than when she's flying a colorful kite. Makes the stinkpots jealous that a boat doing 6 knots can garner so much more attention than their twin outboards! For me, it just harkens back to the days of brave sailors as men among men! Saltygator, looking good... cup
Thanks for all the responses...
Yes it is traditional 3/4 oz and I doubt I would ever consider it in over 15 true. In the pic above it was about 5 true and the boat took off like a shot when the sail filled (check the bow wake). And I haven't even begun to understand trimming it. Patrick, putting this together went just like advertised. Really quite simple and they really do send you everthing you need to do it except the sewing machine and needles. Order the video first and see how easy it is!
Yes it is traditional 3/4 oz and I doubt I would ever consider it in over 15 true. In the pic above it was about 5 true and the boat took off like a shot when the sail filled (check the bow wake). And I haven't even begun to understand trimming it. Patrick, putting this together went just like advertised. Really quite simple and they really do send you everthing you need to do it except the sewing machine and needles. Order the video first and see how easy it is!
My 3/4 oz T-Bird Spinnaker is smaller than yours, but I have
flown it successfully once in a world championships in Australia DDW in 45 knots true. It did stretch a bit and some others did blow out, so I certainly wouldn't recommend it. I would think that you could set it in 20 and hold it over 25 well off the wind, but beyond that you will see some damage. Of course if you sail or race in club races where they don't measure sails, a little stretching won't get you a penalty. Hope you used nylon thread and a zigzag stitch that will stretch with the sail or you will get distortion at the seams. Have lots of fun with it. Joe S
flown it successfully once in a world championships in Australia DDW in 45 knots true. It did stretch a bit and some others did blow out, so I certainly wouldn't recommend it. I would think that you could set it in 20 and hold it over 25 well off the wind, but beyond that you will see some damage. Of course if you sail or race in club races where they don't measure sails, a little stretching won't get you a penalty. Hope you used nylon thread and a zigzag stitch that will stretch with the sail or you will get distortion at the seams. Have lots of fun with it. Joe S
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