Want To Buy: Asymmetrical Spinnaker

[marcjsmith]

I would push for an asym. a lot less strings to deal with fewer blocks and no need for a pole. although with a cat, you could probably rig with out a pole since you could rig your tack to the windward hull.. just keep in a mind with a symmetrical you are stuck 160-180* DDW where as with the Asym you can get 120-170* off the wind.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by marcjsmith

I would push for an asym. a lot less strings to deal with fewer blocks and no need for a pole. although with a cat, you could probably rig with out a pole since you could rig your tack to the windward hull.. just keep in a mind with a symmetrical you are stuck 160-180* DDW where as with the Asym you can get 120-170* off the wind.

I’m SOOOOOOOO Lost!!!


Why are there less strings on an asymmetrical. There are three strings on all of them right? One at the head. And two at the bottom. With one of them being a little off centered on an asymmetrical. Right? Do I have this wrong? I have only flown a symmetrical spinnaker so I don’t know from experience.

None of my other boats had them except one and it had a symmetrical. It was a Catamaran.

Why would I ever need a pole at all. I don’t get it?

My boat is 25 feet wide. I can attach two of the points to the bows if I’m dead down wind. Or I can move them around can’t I? I don’t understand.

Why can’t I move the symmetrical spinnaker the same way you were talking about?

I wish there was something I could read on this because everybody here has a different opinion. Nobody agrees. And I can see that for non-factual situation or when something is just the same as the other and there is a personal preference. But this is something that will either work or it won’t. Right? Why does everybody think something different about it?

I need to buy this within the next couple days and I don’t know what to do.

[Chotu]

Here’s what chat GPT has to say on the topic.


A symmetrical spinnaker and an asymmetrical spinnaker are both types of sails used for downwind sailing on a catamaran, but they have different characteristics and are used in different conditions.

A symmetrical spinnaker is a sail that is the same shape on both sides, and it is typically flown with a spinnaker pole or a whisker pole. It is most commonly used when the wind is coming from behind the boat, and the boat is sailing downwind. It is also typically used when the wind is light to moderate and the boat is moving at a moderate to high speed. Symmetrical spinnakers are generally easier to set up and handle than asymmetrical spinnakers.

An asymmetrical spinnaker, on the other hand, is a sail that is shaped differently on one side than on the other, with one side longer and the other shorter. It is typically flown without a spinnaker pole or whisker pole, and is most commonly used when the wind is coming from the side of the boat, and the boat is sailing at an angle to the wind. Asymmetrical spinnakers are generally more powerful than symmetrical spinnakers in these conditions, but also require more skill to set up and handle.

In summary, symmetrical spinnaker is used when wind is coming from behind the boat, and the boat is sailing downwind, while asymmetrical spinnaker is used when the wind is coming from the side of the boat, and the boat is sailing at an angle to the wind.

Also Asymmetrical spinnakers are generally more powerful but require more skill to set up and handle, whereas Symmetrical spinnakers are generally easier to set up and handle but have less power.
It depend on the preference and skill of the sailor.

[Chotu]

Honestly, it seems to have done a pretty good job. Especially in simplifying the explanation.

Is it possible that where I have this wrong is I am thinking that I can bring the symmetrical spinnaker farther away from 180 than is possible?

If I get kind of far away from 180, will the apparent wind just collapse the symmetrical spinnaker? Is that the problem?

Also, how well does the asymmetrical work at 180? Is it equivalent?

Can I tack down the asymmetrical to my bows at 180?

Where do I put the sheet? I don’t have hardware yet. I have some cleats. I have a midship cleat and an aft cleat.

Possibly, this is the wrong thread. I should put this in the other thread. Doing that now.

[malbert73]

See my reply on the other thread. There isn’t much of a difference. You can fly both with or without a pole. It’s a myth that symmetric requires more strings or a pole, particularly on a catamaran. If you want better DDW performance get a symmetric. Better reaching at expense of deep angles, get a asymmetric.
More/cheaper options in symmetric.
If it were me and money not an option, I’d get a code 0 and a used symmetric, of the biggest size I could fit so I could keep sailing in light air

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by malbert73

See my reply on the other thread. There isn’t much of a difference. You can fly both with or without a pole. It’s a myth that symmetric requires more strings or a pole, particularly on a catamaran. If you want better DDW performance get a symmetric. Better reaching at expense of deep angles, get a asymmetric.
More/cheaper options in symmetric.
If it were me and money not an option, I’d get a code 0 and a used symmetric, of the biggest size I could fit so I could keep sailing in light air

Which brings me right back to my original plan. Ha ha. This is what I was always going to do. Symmetric for deep downwind, code 0.

The code 0 would be added later when I get the bowsprit and secondary furler going.

And maybe that’s why there are so many different opinions here. Because maybe they aren’t that different. Maybe it’s not even a big deal. One or the other.

[Orion Jim]

I found this helpful as some background info before I went to my sailmaker to discuss a new asymmetrical.

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

I found this helpful as some background info before I went to my sailmaker to discuss a new asymmetrical.

Reinforces the symmetric for DDW (we fly ours as high as 90* AWA in light air and 120*+ AWA in stronger winds). Symmetric can be flown with just two lines (guys to either bow), but do better at smaller angles with sheets to the stern quarter, so 4 lines. You will need snatch blocks (or regular blocks) at all four corners, and winches to handle up to three at a time (the leeward guy and sheet can be triangulated to better control the leeward clew).

Asymmetric will do better 90-130* AWA but will not be happy anywhere near DDW. It will need two bow lines if you plan to fly it from your bows, or just one if you fly it from a future bow pole. It will require two sheets to your stern quarters because gybing downwind or for course changes is a thing.

[chrisr]

can i throw in here that while gybing is naturally more efficient, short-handed cruising i personally never bother

it's so much safer (and probably easier) to snuff the sail down in it's sock...change direction...and re-sheet. doing this way you can even get away with one sheet if you want

so the boat slows down while you do it...hardly matters does it ?

cheers,

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by chrisr

can i throw in here that while gybing is naturally more efficient, short-handed cruising i personally never bother

it's so much safer (and probably easier) to snuff the sail down in it's sock...change direction...and re-sheet. doing this way you can even get away with one sheet if you want

so the boat slows down while you do it...hardly matters does it ?

cheers,

Safer and easier to pull down the sock? Nope, especially in winds >12 knots TWS.

Gybing a symmetric is dead easy - ease one guy and pull on the other while turning the boat. I do it single handed (so my wife doesn’t need to interrupt her relaxing) by setting the autopilot to near DDW and tensioning both guys equally and easing the old sheet completely. Then turn the boat 10-20* to get onto the other gybe. Then tension the new sheet and ease the leeward guy until you’re trimmed for the new gybe. Easy peasy.

Pulling down the sock is a two person job as one person eases the sheet and the other person pulls down the sock. In any sort of breeze the spinnaker has to be completely depowered before the sock will come down. Much more work than gybing IMO.

YMMV