An Asymmetrical and Symmetrical Spinnakers are VERY different. The only thing they have in common is the halyard. A symmetrical spinnaker has 2 luffs and a foot, while an asymmetrical spinnaker had a luff, a leach and a foot. The symmetrical spinnaker uses a pole that attaches to the mast, the asymmetrical has no pole. The symmetrical has lines that attach to the 2 clews (usually 4 lines, a guy, a sheet and a lazy guy and lazy sheet). The pole also has a pole lift and a pole downhaul. As far as controlling the sails (I have never flown an asymmetrical) the symmetrical spinnaker needs someone to trim (often standing on the cabin top so he can see the luff as it approaches the forestay as you sail closer to the wind) and someone to grind and someone to control the guy (how far forward or aft the windward luff flies). And you need someone to control the pole. This is in addition to a mainsheet trimmer and a helmsman. When I raced on a bigger boat, we had 6 crew to sail and steer the boat, I suppose it could be done with 5. An asymmetrical spinnaker needs a helmsman, a mainsheet trimmer and a spinny trimmer. Another major difference is when you get into trouble (and for sure you will, everyone does) the symmetrical needs to head downwind (more force on sails), with the asymmetrical you head up as you would with a big genoa. And lastly, taking down the sails: the symmetrical has many possible take downs, all requiring much crew practice. The asymmetrical most often has a snuffer or sock and you release pressure on the sheet and pull down on the snuffer/sock.
Joe McCary Aeolus II. #4795, West River, MD www.aeoluswestriver.net joe at photoresponse dot com From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of bzig818 Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 6:56 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [IC27A] New Owner Just bought my first sailboat Catalina 27 I have racing expierence on others boats but never my own. Any tips or advice on this boat would be greatly appreciated. It does not have a spinnaker for racing what would be my best route for this. I have seen some Asymmetrical Spinnakers can the boat be rigged for a regular spinnaker? __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5270 (20100711) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com
