Hi Don! I need your help! I have a 1978 Catalina 25 with a standard rig. My wife and I are looking at buying either a used or new spinnaker. I have sailed my C25 for about 7 years, however; I have never owned a spinnaker. Most of the time, when we take the boat out, I am the only somewhat experienced sailor. Could you tell me what size or shape spinnaker you would recommend? I do not race my boat. I sail on the Mississippi River, and many times I have to go thru narrow passages, sometimes up river, watching for barges. This sail would be used in light winds 5 to 10 miles per hour. Thank you for your help!!! Sincerely, spinnaker clueless.
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Bill
No Fuss Spinnaker alternative
David; You should check out a Gennaker (combination spinnaker and large genoa) made by north sails..easy to set with only a head tack and (one)clew. Therefore, you don't need a pole. They make several designs to allow for different sailing strategies...deep running to reaching You could also purchase a speed chute (sock) which allows you to quickly deploy the sail without having to rake it in onto the deck. check it out at northsails.com good luck
David; You should check out a Gennaker (combination spinnaker and large genoa) made by north sails..easy to set with only a head tack and (one)clew. Therefore, you don't need a pole. They make several designs to allow for different sailing strategies...deep running to reaching You could also purchase a speed chute (sock) which allows you to quickly deploy the sail without having to rake it in onto the deck. check it out at northsails.com good luck
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Tom Hultberg
Check with Catalina...
they should be able to guide you on demensions. Then you can try to find a sail. I run a Asymetrical spinaker on my Hunter 26. I have a dousing sock on it, so it furles and un furles very quickly. If you are the only one on the boat with sailing skills, as I am, then I would definetly go with the Asymetrical over conventional, as you won't have to mess with a pole and all those additional lines. A spinaker can really make sailing in light winds alot nore fun! Good luck. Tom s/v Chrisanna II
they should be able to guide you on demensions. Then you can try to find a sail. I run a Asymetrical spinaker on my Hunter 26. I have a dousing sock on it, so it furles and un furles very quickly. If you are the only one on the boat with sailing skills, as I am, then I would definetly go with the Asymetrical over conventional, as you won't have to mess with a pole and all those additional lines. A spinaker can really make sailing in light winds alot nore fun! Good luck. Tom s/v Chrisanna II
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Don Guillette
Dave: I was afraid I'd eventually get a question on spinnakers. I'm far from an authority as I rarely sail with one but I may be able to point you in the right direction. My business involves dealing with beginners to intermediates and I prefer they get the main and jib down pat before they move to spinnakers. Check with the Catalina 25 list and see what those guys are using. That list is a wealth of knowledge. After you buy the sail, check out a book by Bill Gladstone called "Performance Racing Trim". It has a number of great sections on spinnakers.
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Brian
Go Asymmetric
I've only played with an Asymmetric chute (also known as gennaker) once, but I have used a traditional spinnaker many times. The asymmetric flies outside of the forestay, and for control you have two sheets & one halyard, just like the jib. A traditional spinnaker has: a halyard, a lift for the spinnaker pole, a downhaul for the pole, a sheet, and a guy (the line going to the windward side) To jibe the asymmetric you release the sheet on one side and sheet in on the other side. To jibe a spinnaker the bowman will: unhook the spinnaker pole from the mast, connect the free end of the pole to the spinnaker where the sheet attaches, unhook the spinnaker pole from the side that will now be off the wind, and finally attach the free end of the pole to the mast. While the bowman is doing that, the crew will: let out the sheet a bit for the bowman to attach the spinnaker pole, man sheet and guy while jibing so the chute doesn't deflate, let out on the new guy to trim, take in the new sheet. With practice, using a spinnaker with three people isn't too difficult. With two people onboard it will keep your hands full. But I've seen EXPERIENCED sailors singlehand an asymmetric chute without a great deal of stress. Of course they had dousing socks and autopilots, but it can be done. Brian
I've only played with an Asymmetric chute (also known as gennaker) once, but I have used a traditional spinnaker many times. The asymmetric flies outside of the forestay, and for control you have two sheets & one halyard, just like the jib. A traditional spinnaker has: a halyard, a lift for the spinnaker pole, a downhaul for the pole, a sheet, and a guy (the line going to the windward side) To jibe the asymmetric you release the sheet on one side and sheet in on the other side. To jibe a spinnaker the bowman will: unhook the spinnaker pole from the mast, connect the free end of the pole to the spinnaker where the sheet attaches, unhook the spinnaker pole from the side that will now be off the wind, and finally attach the free end of the pole to the mast. While the bowman is doing that, the crew will: let out the sheet a bit for the bowman to attach the spinnaker pole, man sheet and guy while jibing so the chute doesn't deflate, let out on the new guy to trim, take in the new sheet. With practice, using a spinnaker with three people isn't too difficult. With two people onboard it will keep your hands full. But I've seen EXPERIENCED sailors singlehand an asymmetric chute without a great deal of stress. Of course they had dousing socks and autopilots, but it can be done. Brian
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Joe
Get a Cruisingdirect gennaker.....
I bought the CruisingDirect gennaker (asymetric spinnaker) for my C27 and I couldn't be happier. Sail, snuffer and turtle were $770 delivered. It is tricky to set single handed, but easily sailed solo. It's a snap for a sailing couple. Workes best with apparemt wind between 90 and 150 degrees. CruisingDirect is owned by North Sails. If you call them you will find the helpful staff willing to answer all your question. Standard sizes are kept in stock, ready for quick delivery. Prices are unbeatable.
I bought the CruisingDirect gennaker (asymetric spinnaker) for my C27 and I couldn't be happier. Sail, snuffer and turtle were $770 delivered. It is tricky to set single handed, but easily sailed solo. It's a snap for a sailing couple. Workes best with apparemt wind between 90 and 150 degrees. CruisingDirect is owned by North Sails. If you call them you will find the helpful staff willing to answer all your question. Standard sizes are kept in stock, ready for quick delivery. Prices are unbeatable.
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Joe
Get a gennaker....
I bought mine from CruisingDirect, they are owned by North Sails. Follow the link below to find size and ordering info. If you call them they will be happy to answer all your questions. They carry a number of standard sizes in stock which translates to very, very reasonable prices and quick delivery. Sail, snuffer and turtle for my C27 was $770 delivered! C25 would probably use next size down. You will love using the sail. Perfect with skipper and one crew. It works best on beam or broad reach (app wind 75 and 160 deg). http://www.cruisingdirect.com Good Luck
I bought mine from CruisingDirect, they are owned by North Sails. Follow the link below to find size and ordering info. If you call them they will be happy to answer all your questions. They carry a number of standard sizes in stock which translates to very, very reasonable prices and quick delivery. Sail, snuffer and turtle for my C27 was $770 delivered! C25 would probably use next size down. You will love using the sail. Perfect with skipper and one crew. It works best on beam or broad reach (app wind 75 and 160 deg). http://www.cruisingdirect.com Good Luck
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Del Wiese
asymmetrical/pole?
Does an asymmetrical spinnaker require a pole for down wind (versus broad reaching)?
Does an asymmetrical spinnaker require a pole for down wind (versus broad reaching)?
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Brian Jarchow
No pole for asymmetric
The asymmetric spinnaker, also called gennaker, can be though of as a cross between a spinnaker and genoa. It attaches at the bow like a genoa, but unlike the genoa it does not attach to the forestay. Also asymmetrics often have a line between where they are attached and the start of the sail, which you would not have with a genoa. The pole that a regular spinnaker has requires at least two more lines and a person on the bow whenever you tack. That's much of why flying a spinnaker is often considered a three person job. Am asymmetric is sometimes a bit weaker than a regular spinnaker, and it is not a good idea to use the thing close to dead downwind. I haven't ever seen one flown successfully wing-on-wing. But it can be used pointing much higher than regular spinnakers, and they are very much easier to use. If I were racing or in a hurry I would hoist a spinnaker, but I would only use an asymmetric if I were just pleasure cruising.
The asymmetric spinnaker, also called gennaker, can be though of as a cross between a spinnaker and genoa. It attaches at the bow like a genoa, but unlike the genoa it does not attach to the forestay. Also asymmetrics often have a line between where they are attached and the start of the sail, which you would not have with a genoa. The pole that a regular spinnaker has requires at least two more lines and a person on the bow whenever you tack. That's much of why flying a spinnaker is often considered a three person job. Am asymmetric is sometimes a bit weaker than a regular spinnaker, and it is not a good idea to use the thing close to dead downwind. I haven't ever seen one flown successfully wing-on-wing. But it can be used pointing much higher than regular spinnakers, and they are very much easier to use. If I were racing or in a hurry I would hoist a spinnaker, but I would only use an asymmetric if I were just pleasure cruising.
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