Another Spinaker

[ceeagr]

I was thinking of getting either a second spinaker with more enphasis on reaching or a cruising cute......... what do people think would be the best option. Currently have a large AP .9oz job in a snuffer. Boat is 40ft Bavaria Ocean.


Regards

Alistair

 

[vyv_cox]

I suspect that you would be disappointed with a cruising chute if familiar with a spinnaker. The spinnaker is far more versatile but a light, full one would not be ideal for reaching. I bought a cruising chute for the same reason but found it to be little better than my genoa. I now have a ghoster, largely for playing with, and it is quite effective as a reaching sail up to about 10 knots apparent. For reaching in stronger winds I would be looking at a triradial spinnaker in some heavier cloth.

 

[bedouin]

For close-reaching you might want to consider one of the sails that is a cross between a genoa and a spinnaker. These come under various names such as Gennaker, MPG (=Multi-Purpose Genoa), UPS (+Utility Power Sail).

I've got a gennaker, that is really a light-air genoa that is set flying like a spinnaker, but with a dyneema luff to keep it tensioned. That is excellent when sailing too close to the wind for the symmetric to be effective.

 

[DoctorD]

I agree totally. I have a gennaker with a luff tensioner and use it when the spinnaker is struggling too close to the wind. Works very well. I fly mine from a bowsprit.

 

[homa]

Forget the cruising chute
I have one on my present boat but find it doesn't reach any closer than the spini on my last boat.
Plus it has far less power.
I miss all the bits of string and strangely I find it no easier to gybe.
I shall definitely be looking for a new spinaker when funds permit.
matholmes

 

[Chris_Stannard]

If you are serious a 1.5 oz tri radial spinnaker cut flatter than your 9 oz is the answer. when close reaching in light airs you can take the end of the pole nearly down to the deck and almost to the forestay to stretch the luff and it then almost becomes a ghoster. But you may need a spider pole to keep the guy off the shrouds.

Incidentally I once heard Stewart Quarry state that if you flew your spinnaker on the tightest possible reach and noted the heading and then gybed and went back the other way, although the apparent wind will be well forward you will find the combined sailing angles do not add up to 180 degrees, but i have never tried to see if this is true.

Chris Stannard