Spinnaker Thoughts?

[Bill]

Getting ready to pull the trigger with regards to a spinnaker. The question that I can't make up my mind on is .75oz or 1.5oz. I understand that in light air the .75 is better and won't collapse as quickly. I understand the 1.5 will hold up longer and put up with some abuse better, not that I am intending abuse but I would like it to last. The purpose is not to race but to cruise the Chesapeake and if I happen to beat another boat that is pointed in the same direction, Yeah. My boat is 36' , 14000lbs and fat, if that matters.

Thoughts and opions would be welcomed, especially those of you who have flown both.

 

[Seattle Scott]

Probably go lighter

I fly a .75 sym. It comes down when apparent gets around 13knts. With a crew of two the chute is basicaly a light air sail - we want a little fun, but no excitement.

Also a chute is real easey to patch and bow lights are real easy to
re-attach.

 

[tommays]

I have found for the most part buy the time you need as 1.5 oz chute YOUR really flying it in some windy conditions

What really kills a .75 is things like broaching in 20 knots and then having it refill with the boat at a dead stop


I will say a 1.5 would allow a lot more abuse on takedowns

 

[Jimm]

I'm preparing to add an Asym to my 30tallrig after several months of exploring sources, comparing sails and talking to other Chesapeake Bay sailors -- result will be .75oz nylon. More often I'm limited by the light wind conditions. The lighter kite should extend my sailing time, not to mention distance covered down wind.....

 

[Prime Time]

Other factors

One of the things I like about the spinnaker is that in a light air day you can sail rather than motor. The heavier sail will negate that. How much crew do you sail with? In heavier air, handling a symmetric spinnaker can be a bear of a job. After sailing with a symmetric spinnaker for 30+ yrs, I purchased an asymmetric. I find it much easier while short-handed, and with the use of a pole, can sail much deeper than I thought possible. I'd go with the .75. As a cruiser in higher winds, unless your dead down wind, the need for the spinnaker is reduced.

 

[catsailor]

Reaching is different.

I'm preparing to add an Asym to my 30tallrig after several months of exploring sources, comparing sails and talking to other Chesapeake Bay sailors -- result will be .75oz nylon. More often I'm limited by the light wind conditions. The lighter kite should extend my sailing time, not to mention distance covered down wind.....

One thing I would consider is that a symmetrical tends to be a down-wind sail, where as a asymmetrical is for reaching. Reaching puts a LOT more load on the sail, it sees higher apparent wind, and thus a heavier cloth may be in order. The reaching chute on my last boat (1300 pound cat) was lightly resinated 1.2 oz., but it was a fairly flat sail, as chutes go, and cats carry reaching chutes without heeling, so the calculations are, no doubt, different.

I would lean heavier on a reaching chute.

 

[Joe]

cloth weight

If you are only going have one spinnaker in your inventory, go with the .75 oz. whether it's a racing cut symetrical or cruising asym...In the majority of conditions you'll want to use a spinnaker.... most likely light to medium air.. say under 15 knots... to increase off wind performance, the 3/4 oz will be the choice. Somewhere down the road you may consider investing in a reaching sail or a heavier air spinnaker.... or even a light air genoa that can be poled out, but you should always have a .75 on hand.

 

[Bill]

I probably should have mentioned that the spinnaker will be asymetrical, but I see the bulk of its use being a downwind tack. Sorry about that.

 

[filthy liberal scum]

go with the .75 oz

for the most part chesie winds are light. when you get winds that require a 1.5oz you would be as well off without a chute and a lot more comfy. 90 % of the time your going to need the lighter .75. if the winds require a 1.5oz chute its not a lot of fun handling the boat especially, if your sailing short handed. my wife and i handle our .75 just fine, but when it gets to strong for the .75, its also too strong for us to handle the boat with the chute up.

 

[RichH]

0.75 oz is all you'll need on the Chesapeake during the 'windless summer months'.
The .75 oz will better be able to keep its shape on those 'light' days (and nights).

0.75 oz. material can be satisfactorily used in up to 15+ kts. apparent without much permanent stretch.

 

[Auspicious]

40' boat, 22,000lbs currently sailing the Chesapeake.

I have a 1.5oz asymmetric I can fly off a sprit or the pole. I was glad to have the heavier sail offshore. My next sail (I'll keep the asym) will be a .75oz symmetric to improve offwind performance during Chesapeake summers.