Running with a Gennaker

agaliha · Jan 15, 2009

Asym running

Yes, you can run "wing and wing" with a gennaker if you are sailing dead downwind. You will have to mind your helm very closely! You can use your spinnaker pole to force the clew of the sail outboard as long as the wind is not too strong. I have done this and use the pole lift to keep the weight of the pole from affecting sail shape.
The success of any of this will depend largely on the cut of your gennaker. Some are cut very flat -- making them better for reaching. A full cut gennaker will pull without a pole or "winging without" until you are about 30 degrees from "dead down."
Another thing I do frequently is run downwind with only my gennaker (no mainsail). If the wind is up this is actually very effective and comfortable. You don't need (and I wouldn't recommend) a pole in this instance. For going "dead downwind," you really can't beat a symmetrical spinnaker. For anything else, an asymmetrical is the way to go.
Also, a lot of this depends on the size of your boat. On my Beneteau 361, a spinnaker is about a half-acre of nylon.

My "admiral" says it reminds her of a garter belt -- lots of fun but not very practical.

Ron20324 · Jan 15, 2009

One of my best trips on my B323 was on the bay was last fall by wing'n wing. We tried various setups and ended up with the pole on the asym spin, and ran the jib sheet out trough the bail on the end of the boom. No main sail. We ripped along at 8.6, though I don't recall the wind strength, but it was on the stern. Experiment, and you will learn.

Rhiannon · Jan 15, 2009

I use my gennaker with and without the main. It seems to work the best without the main when DDW. I don't use the pole usually because it is a very full cut and is lightweight. They do seem to work best on a reach, though.

newly anonymous · Jan 15, 2009

you betcha

jrpla said:
I also have a spinnaker pole, is there a way to use it, similar setup as with the genoa?

If your spinnaker pole extends beyond 100% J, you can use it as a sprit for the tack. Only problem is that before gibing it you'll have to move it to the leeward side of the headstay.

Alternately, you can use it as a whisker pole, just as you'd use it with a genny.

Realize, please, that gennakers cover a wide range. Just as a genoa can be a number 1 or a number 3, so can a gennaker. In other words, it will be much easier to whisker out a G3 gennaker than a G1, just as it's easier to whisker out a #3 Blade than a full #1 genny.

Prime Time · Jan 16, 2009

I have a North AP-2 asymmetric on my Mirage 27. I can carry it dead down wind with the clew poled out, wing and wing with the main set with a preventer. It works very well with that set-up. The pole is set with a pole topping lift and a pole downhaul. My pole is the length of my J.

jrpla said:
Hi,

I am in the process of buying a Gennaker and have few quiestions about running with a Gennaker.

Can you use the Gennaker for running with no problems?

Can I do wing to wing with a Gennaker?

Please let me know your suggestions,

I also have a spinnaker pole, is there a way to use it, similar setup as with the genoa?

will apreaciate any photos of your setup, if possible.

Thanks;

larryw · Jan 16, 2009

I have a gennaker in my stern locker, but I hardly ever use it. I usually just pole out the 150 genny to windward if going downwind and put the main opposite. It seems like a lot of work (blocks and lines) to set that gennaker up and if the run is less than three or four hours, not worth it. One a longish trip, though, a gennaker in a sock can be a great addition. As mentioned, flying twin headsails is a rush.

RichH · Jan 16, 2009

A true Gennaker is designed for apparent wind angles from ~60 to ~90 degrees. Cut 'more full', the range will only increase from ~75-120 deg. Do you really mean a Gennaker or do you mean an all-purpose cut Asymmetric?

Yes you can run DDW with all types ... but since the Asymm and the Gennaker arent specifically cut for DDW you will find the sail to be a bit 'unstable' to fly. Even a full cut Asymm will typically only be stable to approx. 150 deg. apparent. As another poster listed you can apply the tack of the sail to a spinn/whisker pole and sail it similar to a symmetric but be unable to fully gybe it until you change the tack to the 'other side of the forestay'.
Consider 'gennakers' to be specialized 'genoas'; and, you can fly a gennaker DDW exactly as you would fly a big genoa DDW.

For better control, etc. you can always 'tack downwind' at approx 135 deg apparent - faster, more control, less 'rolling', less windshadow interference from the mainsail.