Yesterday, we flew an Asym aboard a Hunter 34 on the Chesapeake Bay in 5 to 15 knots. We had a crew of three, which made it easy. The sail was originally from a
Pearson 30, so it was a bit small for the
Hunter, but it worked great. We used the sail as a large
genoa, broad reaching with just the Asym, then close reaching with the Asym and the main.
This is definitely not just a downwind sail! Looking forward to launching the Asym on those light wind, August days.
It has a sock for easy launch and dowse. We didn't have a good tack location at the bow, so we just tied a tack line to the stem. We ran a spinsheet through a snatch block at the stern of the port rail, the side from which we launched the Asym. When we tacked, one of us moved the snatch block and spinsheet to the starboard side while the other moved the sock around the forestay then relaunched the sail. Nice to have the third person at the
helm. However, with the proper tacking rig and continuous spinsheet running port and starboard, can see how a short-handed crew of two can launch, trim, and retrieve an Asym without difficulty.
Thank you Capt. Jack!