Downwind Sails

[Octopus]

I'd appreciate some advice on downwind sails. The advice I've read so far seems to be contradictory. Some people say they are too much hassle and others say they wouldn't leave port without them.

We are expecting to take delivery of a Lagoon 420 next summer, sail from the Canaries to Caribbean in November, cruise the Caribbean until May and then sail back across the pond. Plenty of downwind sailing, but is it worth the cost and the hassle of a dedicated downwind sail? Or can we make do with the standard Main & Genny (plus emergency spare sails off a Prout). If it is worth it, then do we go for the factory fitted Gennaker and or tri-radial spinnaker or get them elsewhere and perhaps get one of these fancy new designs?

Our sailing will be cautious. With six kids on-board we can do without the excitement of an out-of-control spinnaker, but if the boat will be more sea-kindly and handle better under a dedicated downwind sail then it may be worth the additional expense.

How much downwind sailing will we do in our proposed circuit (apart from the obvious transatlantic tradewind stuff)? At times, we'll be short-handed (just the two of us plus kids), at other times we wont be?

Finally, when we come to sell or charter our boat after our sailing sabbatical will a dedicated downwind sail have recouped its cost.

Thanks

Chris