On Sat, 06 Dec 2003 03:08:36 +0000, Wayne. wrote:

On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 13:25:49 -0800, "Lloyd Sumpter" wrote:
OK, here's a boating-related question (Most Rebs and Dems will have NO
IDEA what I'm talking about, but what the hell...):

What's the Story on Cruising Spinnakers (I like to call them "downwind
floppy genoas, because they act more like gennys than true spinnakers)? They
used to be All The Rage, now I rarely see one.

I'm getting a new genny for Far Cove in the near future, so was
wondering if a C.S. was worth the cost.
==========================================

In my opinion they are better than cruising with no spinnaker at all but not
much. The usable range of wind angles is small compared to a real spinnaker on
a pole.

Yeah, that was my experience with my Cal 25, that had a "genuine" spinnaker. I
remember one sail up the Sunshine Coast, wind about 160 or so - there was a
30-footer about 5 miles ahead of me at Gower Point, and I had passed it by
Welcome Passage. He was spending all his time hand-jyping his C.S. back and
forth, trying to get it out of the shadow of the main. I was just sailing along
under spinnaker, steering with my foot and enjoying the scenery.


The biggest improvements in sailing ability that most cruising boats can make
a Clean bottom and keel; Folding or feathering prop; Spinnaker; Elimination
of excess weight in the bow and stern.

I just can't seem to get any speed on a "deep reach" in light air. I usually end
up reaching just at the point where the main starts shadowing the genny, then
gybe the main and try wing-and-wing. Nothing seems to get me more than 2-3 knots
in 5-7 knots wind (where I'd be doing 5.5 or so upwind!)

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36