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Spinnaker Suggestions??

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bbriner
Captain

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349 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/14/2005 : 11:27:41

When I had my mast down recently to replace all the standing rigging I installed a block and halyard for a spinnaker - although I don't have one. So now I'm ready for a spinnaker (I think!). I will probably be getting a cruising (asymmetric) spinnaker because I'm usually sailing shorthanded and the cruising chute is so much simpler than a symmetric chute.

This isn't for racing.. this will be used for mostly downwind sailing, not light air reaching since we don't have light air that much. We usually have a good downwind run straight down the Bay from GG Bridge into Berkeley Marina so it wouold be nice to get a little more sail up. However, I am a little concerned about about the stress on the rigging when pushing a boat with a non-planing (displacement) hull to it's maximum speed, especially in heavy wind. I don't want to lose my mast! I've been told that most dismastings occur downwind from this sort of thing. Any thoughts here?

So, does anyone have any recommendations about this? Your experiences? Where to buy? Size/shape, etc.?

TIA,
Bill B
Wind Dancer
1984 C25 #4036 SR/FK
http://www.pbase.com/bbriner

Bill B
Wind Dancer
#4036 84 SR/FK
San Francisco Bay

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 01/01/2000 : 11:24:05

The boat was originally configured to carry a spinnaker. If you keep the sail area equivalent to that of what the boat was built for, regardless of asym or tri-radial you should be more than okay.

The extra block, as Jim states isn’t absolutely necessary if your not racing, but it can come in handy. You probably could get by without a pole if your getting an asymmetrical too.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Also, don't tie figure 8 knots in the end of the sheets on these sails, always be ready to turn down wind in a gust and dump the sheets to prevent a spinnaker broach.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Jim’s note above is good if flyling an asym, however Please note that if you are sailing a “racing kite” aka symmetrical do not under any circumstances let your pole go forward in a broach, release/dump only the sheet not the guy. Sending the pole forward will compound the problem.

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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3285 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2005 : 12:02:48

I wouldn't worry about dismasting unless your standing rigging is in bad condition. I've had my boat in immense winds, a sea of whitecaps, heeled over to 45 degrees, hiked out, in big waves and seeing speeds in the high 7 knot range. Taking spray all the way to the top of the backstay adjusters. Ducking big waves. Burying the bow. And loving it I might add! I have a spinnaker also (it wasn't up in those conditions).

If you are getting over powered with your gennaker up, get it down and put up a poled out jib, or if that much wind you can sail downwind under main or jib alone.

Personally, now that I've sailed both an asym and my sym, I prefer the sym. I have a 0.5 oz but you might prefer a 0.75 depending on how much wind is normal for your area. Remember, the asym is not for straight downwind, its more of a reaching sail and can even point a little. The sym goes from downwind to a reach, never points.

Also, don't tie figure 8 knots in the end of the sheets on these sails, always be ready to turn down wind in a gust and dump the sheets to prevent a spinnaker broach.

No need for the special block for an asym, you can hoist with your jib halyard.

For a sym, you need a pole, pole lift, pole downhaul, and spinnaker block at the top.

That spinnaker halyard also makes a great emergency halyard if you have problems with the jib.

Your asym will be best for winds 5 to 12 knots. Above, say, 15 you can sail just fine downwind with poled out jib. Below 5 you'll probably be motoring unless you are in a race.

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atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2005 : 13:30:15

I have a cruising spin. I like it a lot. Jim ras right on with his advice. I went with a 135 jib instead of a 150. I saved a little bit that I rolled into the spin. The cruising version can be used dead downwind but the main needs to be down.
I have used mine in winds as high as 18 knots. Just remember, the apparent wind drops to something like 12 when heading off the wind. I would reccomend the lightest sheets you can use as a good ammount is flying all the time.

Tom.

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