I've noticed large horizontal "Vs" on the luff of some asymmetric spinnakers. What is their purpose?
Vs on luff of asymmetric spinnaker
- Thread starter Bill Russell
- Start date
Do you have a photo of one.
The short answer is most modern spinnakers are a triradial design. This design allows the sails to carry the loads on the seams and allows a better shape. The cloth is often woven so that the stronger yarns are oriented along the load paths.
Horizontal panels have the loads running diagonally across the fabric weave with the load paths roughly at right angles to the seams. This is not as strong and the shape is more easily distorted.
The short answer is most modern spinnakers are a triradial design. This design allows the sails to carry the loads on the seams and allows a better shape. The cloth is often woven so that the stronger yarns are oriented along the load paths.
Horizontal panels have the loads running diagonally across the fabric weave with the load paths roughly at right angles to the seams. This is not as strong and the shape is more easily distorted.
I presume you mean like this?
I’ve seen them a couple times too. I assumed they’re meant as some kind of draft stripe to visualize the curve at the luff, but I don’t really know.
I’ve seen them a couple times too. I assumed they’re meant as some kind of draft stripe to visualize the curve at the luff, but I don’t really know.
The V shape allows the sail trimmer to recognize how much curl is in the luff of the spinnaker. The objective is to trim the sail so the curl on the luff just comes and goes..
You didn't need indicators like these on symmetrical spinners since they fly off poles which usually put the spinnaker luff out to the side where the trimmer can easily see the luff. With asyms, and the luff flying off a sprite, the curl on the luff is not so easy to see or judge.
You didn't need indicators like these on symmetrical spinners since they fly off poles which usually put the spinnaker luff out to the side where the trimmer can easily see the luff. With asyms, and the luff flying off a sprite, the curl on the luff is not so easy to see or judge.
the horizontal V probably indicate to the helms direction to go? 