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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/20/2008 : 17:48:04

I've heard a lot of names for light wind sails. I wonder how many of them are names for the same thing. Can anybody out there give concise definitions of the following:

Gennaker

Asym Spinnaker

Drifter

Sym Spinnaker

Cruising spinnaker

What about their relative ease of use, particularly singlehanded. Are they all only downwind sails?

John Russell
1999 C250 SR/WK #410
Bay Village, Ohio
Sailing Lake Erie
Don't Postpone Joy!

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/20/2008 : 19:16:49

John, the naming convention seems amorphous to say the least. It is really a question of what you want the sail for. I use a high wind 135, when we have light air I furl it up and fly a 1.5 oz gennekar/drifter. Because of the furler, I wanted a sail that I could raise inside the forestay. My bow stem fitting allows me to shackle the tack of a sail just behind the furler. I hoist it like a chute, quickly and unfilled. It sheets at about 160%. This sail uses very little hardware, only an available halyard and an open spot on the bow stem. After that a second set of genoa cars is nice. This sail takes me up wind and off the wind. It is the right sail for my sail inventory. So if having one made the important thing is to make sure they understand your expectations... let them call it what ever they want.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 02/20/2008 : 19:40:33

My assumption here, Frank, is that 4 out of the 5 names above refer to the same critter. The only one different is the Symetrical Spinnaker. How is it different? Is my "assym"ption correct?

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 02/20/2008 : 19:47:50

Most of those terms are synonymous.

There are two principal types of light air sails - the symmetrical spinnaker and the asymmetrical spinnaker.

The symmetrical spinnaker is designed to use mainly for downwind sailing, although you can reach with them to a limited extent. They are designed to be flown with a spinnaker pole. Both sides of the symmetrical spinnaker are the same length. The symmetrical spinnaker is designed for maximum downwind performance, but it requires a minimum of 2-3 crew to fly it well, and is most commonly used by racers.

The asymmetrical spinnaker is designed to use for downwind sailing and for reaching, and it's designed to be flown without a pole. The luff and leech of the asym are not the same length. The asym is particularly useful for cruising because it can be flown by a singlehander or by short-handed crew. It's often called a cruising chute, or cruising spinnaker. A gennaker is simply a copyrighted trade name for an asymmetrical spinnaker that was manufactured by North Sails.

I've seen the term "drifter" used in different ways, but it seems to be a generic term for a light air sail. It could refer to a genoa sail made of especially light weight cloth, or it could refer to an asymmetrical spinnaker. I've seen it used to describe both types of sail.

Symmetrical and asymmetrical spinnakers can be bought in different weights of sailcloth. The most common weights are 1/2 oz., 3/4 oz., and 1.5 oz. The lighter weights are for lighter winds, and the heavier weights are for stronger winds.

A device that is becoming increasingly popular is called a chute scoop, or spinnaker snuffer, or spinnaker sock, or any number of other names. It's a long fabric tube that is situated at the top of either a sym or asym spinnaker when it's flying. When you want to take the spinnaker down, you pull on a line, and it pulls the tube down over the spinnaker, smothering it. If you want to fly the spinnaker again, you just raise the tube back up to the top of the mast, and the spinnaker fills.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 02/20/2008 19:53:48

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 02/20/2008 : 20:02:26

Thanks, guys. That's what I thought but why assume when you can know by simply asking the right people.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 02/20/2008 : 20:15:08

At the risk of repeating some of what Steve wrote: I've always associated a drifter with a large genoa, usually 170% and made out of very light weight cloth similar to 1/2 oz spinnaker cloth, and used only in winds 5 mph and under. Also, the sheets would be 1/4" or less. We're talking one step above twine here, if you get my "drift".
Gennaker, asym spin, and cruising spin. all refer to an asym and poleless spinnaker. Sym spin. is your traditional downwind and broad reaching spinnaker flown with a pole on the windward side.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 02/20/2008 : 20:38:56

great questions,great info. Thank you.

How do you determine the correct size for our boats?
I'm asking this because from previous threads, there was mention of buying used spinnakers that had been used on entirely different boats.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 02/20/2008 : 21:04:15

I would ask some of the sail vendors catering to Catalina 25/250's, maybe try to find the dimensions on their web sites.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2008 : 06:26:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">[i]How do you determine the correct size for our boats?
I'm asking this because from previous threads, there was mention of buying used spinnakers that had been used on entirely different boats.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Bacon Sails website has an explanation of the method for determining spinnaker size. They say:

"If you are racing, we urge you to check your class rules on the allowable spinnaker size. Some racing classes, such as Lightnings, Solings, etc. have very strict rules. Most cruiser-racer classes use the I.O.R. rule. This rule allows the spinnaker luffs (leaches) to be a maximum of 95% of the square root of (I 2 + J 2 ). The sail width may not exceed 1.8 x J. The spinnaker pole length should equal J. Larger sails can be used, but expect a rating increase. Many boats that do not race like to use spinnakers. The rule of thumb for the spinnaker size is the luffs = I. The foot should be between 1.6 x J and 2 x J."

"Many cruising boats are now using “Poleless Spinnakers.” The luff on poleless spinnakers should not exceed the I or the full size genoa luff. The foot should be between 1.6 and 1.8 x J. The leach is usually 90% of the luff. No spinnaker pole is used with these “Poleless Spinnakers.”"

The most important measurement for both a sym and asym is the length of the luff. If the length of the luff of the sail is too long, it won't fit your boat. If the length of the foot of the sail is too long or too short, it'll probably fit, but it might not be as big as you're allowed, or it might be too big, and you might be assessed a handicap rating increase if you use it for racing.

Edited by - on

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