I have heard mentioned such a beast on this site - assume it is a cross between a geneoa and a spiniker - but how does it work? I mean how is it rigged, flown and is it handled by a short handed crew? Is it permenately rigged ike a furling jib or what? Ed
- Status
Gennaker, Drifter, DRS, etc...
You are partially right about the cross between a genoa and a spinnaker, and hence the name. They are also called slasher, flashers, DRS, Drifters, etc, etc. IMHO they are closer to an asymetrical spinnaker. You do not pole it. They are tacked in front of the stay, and like a spinnaker, the sheets are run outside to blocks as far back as possible, then back to the winch. The up-wind sheet is passed in front of the stay and inside of the gennaker itself, allowing to gybe. I use one regularly on my 34, even when sailing solo. If you get one, and do much soloing, get one with a sock so you can snuff it and store it easily.
You are partially right about the cross between a genoa and a spinnaker, and hence the name. They are also called slasher, flashers, DRS, Drifters, etc, etc. IMHO they are closer to an asymetrical spinnaker. You do not pole it. They are tacked in front of the stay, and like a spinnaker, the sheets are run outside to blocks as far back as possible, then back to the winch. The up-wind sheet is passed in front of the stay and inside of the gennaker itself, allowing to gybe. I use one regularly on my 34, even when sailing solo. If you get one, and do much soloing, get one with a sock so you can snuff it and store it easily.
marketing ploy
"gennaker" is just a name given to assymetrical reaching spinnakers by sailmakers who are trying to get the business of clients who are afraid to fly spinnakers. Downwind assymetricals have bigger shoulders than reaching assymetricals. (Technically, the mid-girth dimmensions exceed the foot.) In calm conditions a reaching chute can be carried as far forward as 60 degrees, while a downwind chute will luff around 90 degrees, depending on the cut. "Cruising spinnakers" are generally cut to reaching dimmensions at 165% of J, while racing assymetricals are usually cut to downwind dimmensions at 180% of J.
"gennaker" is just a name given to assymetrical reaching spinnakers by sailmakers who are trying to get the business of clients who are afraid to fly spinnakers. Downwind assymetricals have bigger shoulders than reaching assymetricals. (Technically, the mid-girth dimmensions exceed the foot.) In calm conditions a reaching chute can be carried as far forward as 60 degrees, while a downwind chute will luff around 90 degrees, depending on the cut. "Cruising spinnakers" are generally cut to reaching dimmensions at 165% of J, while racing assymetricals are usually cut to downwind dimmensions at 180% of J.
- Status