symetrical as asymetrical?

[colin]

I have just bought a symetrical spinnaker used for my h335 and I would like to use it sans pole assymetrical fashion. So I have a few related questions:My sailmaker tells me that it will be about 90% as efficient as an assymetrical on a reach and 110% as efficient on a run. Does anyone have any experience of doing this and what were the results?Should I experiment with using a whisker pole on the sheet while running?Would it be OK to run the tack line? back to the cockpit via stanchion mounted faileads?Where can I find an inexpensive sock?I will probably have more questions later once I have played some.Thanks in anticipationColin

 

[Justin - O'day Owners' Web]

Tack line

I have no personal experience using a sym as an assym but if your sailmaker thinks it will work then by all means go for it. As far as the tackline, though, I wouldn't run it along the stantions. The loads could get rather substantial and I'd then the load might damage them, the deck, or the seal.Justin - O'day Owners' Web

 

[Dana]

90% no way,maybe 60% or less

Sym. is cut for running,Asym is cut for reach and the power point in sail is forword on Asym,Sym power point is center. That's why Sym on a reach will be giveing big leeway,if you do some how keep it full and it will be adding heel(both are slow) . But at very low reach maybe will work as high as 60% of Asym.That's how it worked on my 30',but boat's and sails are not all the same!If it's rigged as you say!Try it you may like it? what's lost by trying!

 

[Chuck Wayne]

tackline

Hi Colin,Most sym chutes are cut too full to fly well as an assym, but if your sailmaker says try it, why not? assuming you have a turning block for the tackline forward of the forestay on the anchor roller, you can run the line aft via blocks/guides on the stantions-the load is primarily taken by the block and the cleat/winch in the cockpit. We've got our 356 rigged this way and it works well. I'd guess an ATN sock will run you about $400-I've seen copies for less, but everyone seems to think the ATN is worth the difference-I've used them for a while and they work really well. good luck!

 

[Tim]

ATN Tacker

Get yourself an ATN Tacker. It "wraps" around the furled headsail, and then has the sail tack and tackline attached to it. It allows the spin tack to ride up and down the headfoil (furled headsail) and keeps the tack close to the centerline of the boat. Probably will not reach well in apparent wind angles of less than about 100 degrees, but should work well between 100 and 140 degrees apparent wind angle (I'd guess).The problem using a sym spin is thut the luff length is not sufficient to keep the tack close to the stemhead with a full hoist. Asym or gennakers have longer luff lengths that allow for this.Good luck!Tim