spinnaker

[ken cloaninger]

i am considering the addition of a spinnaker on my o'day 322. with very little experience with this type of sail there are lots of quesions. what determines the size of the sail other than the mast? will there be additional equipment besides a spinnaker pole and what are the cost. for pleasure sailing on a lake is it worth the trouble?

 

[AL]

Ken : why don't you look into a gennaker,or cruising chute. you wouldn't need to buy a pole and it's easier to use for a cruising sailor. check the adds in the back of cruising world for used sails you might go that route.

 

[LaDonna Bubak - Catalina Owners]

Asymetrical

I think that's definitely the way to go (Al referred to them as Cruising spinnaker or gennaker). Unless you're racing, there's usually very little need for a tri-radial. LaDonna

 

[Joe]

Spinnakers

Asymetrical is your best bet. Check out Cruisingdirect.com for a very good explanation of how they work and how much one will cost for your boat. Besides the sail you will need a set of blocks near the stern, a set of longer sheets, a bow fitting to rig the tack line, and, preferably, a launching sock. Most importantly you will need a spinnaker halyard, with the masthead block rigged in front ot the forestay. Two people can easily handle this sail, especially with the sock.A symetrical spinnaker requires all the above plus: a pole, a mast fitting for the pole, a foreguy (lower control line), a deck fitting for the foreguy and another halyard to be used as the pole topping lift. In addition you will need experienced or additional crew to man the traditional spinnaker. Go with the gennaker.

 

[Robert Polk]

Each has advantages.

Asymetrical spinnakers (cruising chutes)are easier to launch and jibe but are designed to reach. When running downwind you must tack downwind. This is OK in light air since your downwind Velocity Made good (VMG)is better reaching than running as true wind speed decreases. This is because the apparent wind speed increases significantly. Symetrical chutes with spinnaker poles are designed to reach or run downwind depending on the pole angle. Symetrical chutes are better in heavy air running situations. For your situation I would recommend the asymetrical chute for two handed light air situations. My wife and I use a symetrcal chute on our Express 35 with just the two of us in winds to 15 knots true. We have the luxury of a carbon fibre pole and years of racing experience. We will get an asymetrical chute for our new Hunter 460.