Symmetric flown as assymetric?

[Grizz]

I read w/ interest today's Forum Topic and note where one Captain will fly his symmetric from a pennant clipped @ the bow as if it were cut like an assymetrical sail. I gotta believe it can't be as efficient as flying a symetric w/ pole/topping lift/down haul/sheets/guys, but if it's only 20% less efficient(purely a guess), the convience and gain may be worth it, especially if sailing short handed. Three questions: 1) What's the downside of imlementing this option? 2)Is there a downside? 3) If attempted, what is there to be wary of?Thanks in advance of any guidance. Take care.

 

[Don Guillette]

Assymetric

Grizz: Great name by the way!! There are a number of guys on this forum that are experts with this type of setup and I was hoping they would pop in to help you. I'm far from an expert with this setup as most of the folks I deal with have problems with a 135 jib!!Guys, give Grizz some advise.

 

[Moody Buccaneer]

I'll bite ...

It will depend on the angle you are trying to sail.On a close reach, the sym sail is set with the tack forward and down. This reaching shape would not be much different if the sail was attached to a tack line or at the end of a pole.As you sail deeper the sail will not work as well and may not fly at all.A-Sails are designed to lift and rotate forward as the wind goes aft. They are stable up to apparent wind angles of 160 degrees or so.S-Sails are designed to have the clews at the same height (unless close reaching). You won't get this shape with one clew tacked to the bow.If you have an S-Sail, there is nothing to keep you from trying to fly it tacked on the bow. How well it works will depend on the cut of the sail. It might work pretty well at some angles or it might be total waste of time.

 

[Alan]

Am I missing something?

Why would anyone want to fly an S sail as if it were an A sail? These sails were built to have a certain shape applicable to how they are used. Would you hoist a genoa leech up the headstay? Sure it might move the boat forward but it would be far from efficient doing so. Most sailors have trouble enough flying the sails as they were intended without having to reinvent the wheel and try something different. I don't get it.In general, A sails are designed to operate in reaching conditions, S sails are designed to fly deeper down where their tack can be moved to weather for optimal performance.

 

[Alchemist]

Alan, you forget that sailors are cheap.

and symmetrical spinnakers are difficult to sail shorthanded (read that with yourself and one other crew).You can pick up a used symmetrical spinnaker from a racer cheap (or perhaps you find one in the lazarette after you buy the boat), and it's both less expensive and easier to use that sail flown as an asymmetric than it is to either buy an asymmetric or to use the pole, fore-guy, topping lift, lazy sheet, lazy guy, etc.Since this hypothetical sailor just day sails and takes an occasional one to two week cruise, whats the harm?SteveAlchemist C-320(p.s. I found an a-sail in my lazarette when I bought my previous C-30T, and kept it to use on my C-320)

 

[Alan]

Alchemist

I get your drift, but A sails are just as inexpensive to buy used as S sails. I have paid under $300 for a decent practice chute. Hey if a fella wants to fly a sym like an asym, what the hell, but the question was 'what's the down side?'Given my druthers I'd go for the kind that works best.