Do I Really Need My Spinnaker?

[Sailabel]

Hi- we're getting set for part 2 of our voyage- leaving the Sea of Cortez for South Pacific and beyond in our Tayana 37. We're discussing leaving our spinnaker (or lightweight drifter) behind. Our sail inventory consists of a main, genoa on a furling, staysail on a furling, storm tri-sail, lightweight drifter, and a cruising spinnaker with sock and ATN tacker. For those with long range cruising experience- is it a mistake to leave the spinnaker behind? If it's likely to get used, we can find the space, but as you know- space is at a premium. Or will the lightweight drifter do just as well. For those who have a spinnaker, do you use it enough to justify the space, and those who don't have one aboard- do you miss it?? Thanks for your help.
Steve

[Cheechako]

Leave it home. Especially since you have the drifter.

[speciald@ocens.]

Use the space for something you will need more often. On my last boat, I carried a cruising chute for three years and never used it. On my current boat, the chute would be gigantic and take up more room than an additional crew member. I could have used one briefly last trip from the Carribean - still not worth carrying it around.

[Randy]

I agree if you've got other light air sails you'll do well. If you're not using it in Mexico which is light air sailing often, I don't think you'd need it elsewhere.

[senormechanico]

I agree with the above posts.
When we cruised Mexico on our Lord Nelson 35, we used our cruising chute a good percentage of the time.

Steve B.

[Jim Cate]

It depends a lot on your own sailing style. T-37's are not known as great light air boats, so if you want to avoid motoring every time the wind drops, the kite will certainly move you better than a drifter... but you may choose to turn on the donk instead of going to the effort of setting even a cruising chute.

We have always carried a traditional kite, and use it often enough to keep it around. But, we ENJOY flying the sail, and appreciate the quiet ghosting experience, so this tips the balance for us.

Besides, you can always use the bagged kite like a bean-bag chair!

Cheers,

Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II lying Mooloolaba Qld Oz

[Portobello]

I agree with Jim and Ann - my boat seems to go so nicely with the kite in sub 10 knot winds

[daedaluscan]

As long as you have another light air option.

When we left Zihuataneo for Cocos we took with us a $50 drifter from Minnies. It was a piece of Sh**. Mr Minnie tried to persuade me not to waste our money on it as it was rotten, but it was the only light air sail he had that remotely fit our boat.

I think we would still be out there if we hadn't had it it. It was up
for 3 days straight, one of which was our worst ever day at 30 miles.
When we got to Annapolis I used it as drop cloth to varnish the mast.

Then of course we got plenty of wind and hove too but that is another story.

So I would always take one light air option, if only for your sanity.

[roverhi]

Unless you are the type that turns on the engine when boatspeed drops below 4 knots, you need a light air sail. A symetrical spinnaker may not be all that useful, however. They require an autopilot or someone on the helm as they typically won't work with a self steering vane on a run. We had a spinnaker on our W32 and almost never found the right wind conditions to use it or wanted to hang out on the helm as we had no A/P. If we'd had an asym. spinnaker, it would have been a different story. That would have been a great sail reaching conditions in light air. As it was, we used our Dacron Reacher/Drifter about a 1/3rd of the time. Great sail as soon as we could crack off a bit with winds under 10 knots and up to 15 knots on a broad reach. Unfortunately, got caught with it up a number of times when winds suddenly increased and some really spectacular near 200 mile days that blew the shape out of the sail. Still good for reaching but hopeless with wind much forward of the beam.

We've got a lightweight 150 genoa for windward work on our Pearson 35 and a light and heavy asym. with socks for more off the wind light air work. I'm a sailor and wont' turn the engine on unless sailing is hopeless. I want all the light air sails I can carry cause I'll use them.

Aloha
Peter O.
Pearson 35.

[Bash]

I use a G3 gennaker built by North Sails, and find that I can set it and forget it for hours at a time, just as they advertise. I can't imagine wanting to undertake a passage without it. Conversely, my old A-kite required constant tweaking, and I'm happier without it on board.

[maxingout]

I used my North Spinnaker two times during our circumnavigation. The first time was great with Exit Only sailing downwind at 11 knots in the tradewinds. The second time was a disaster. As I was taking it down, I lost control and ran over it, shredding it. It required a $700 repair job in New Zealand. I have not used it since.

I am not gifted in the use of spinnakers. That's why I use a double headsail downwind rig.

[daedaluscan]

I am sure that a double headsail rig is worth a dozen spinnakers in real terms on a cruising boat.

Ease of use, relaxation, stress, storage.....