Differences
Performance:- Asymetric: Optimized for all reaching - from about 60 to 140 degrees off the absolute wind.- Symetric: Optimized for beam reaching to running - from about 110 to 180 degrees off the absolute wind.Rigging and trimming required to set and trim the sail:- Asymetric: Halyard, (sock uphaul), tack line (seldom trimmed), sheet (trimmed like any foresail).- Symetric: Halyard, (sock uphaul), tack line (trimmed on any wind shift or course change), sheet (trimmed like any foresail), spinnaker pole, pole topping lift.Although the asymetric is not designed for running, we have flown ours wing on wing with the main when we had to (running down the Detroit River for instance). In fact, gybing between broad reaches is a faster way to get downwind than a dead run, so the asymetric with a simpler rig, and powerful reaching capability has been gaining more and more usage share on racing and cruising rigs.DavidLady Lillie