[MHml] a new downwind sail

[Roy Mills]

At 12:15 AM 11/30/06, you wrote:

>So I'm trying to decide on a downwind sail.  I'm leaning toward an 
>old used 1.5 oz symmetric triradial spinnaker in a 
>snuffer.  Spinnaker size around 1000 - 1250 ft2 [93 - 116 sq. 
>m].  Something either of us can douse easily on their own.  Fly it 
>until about 15 knots true, from true wind angles of 90 to 150 or 
>so.  Fly it deeper wind angles when it's really light.  Basically a 
>sail optimized for running, not reaching performance.  Easy to gybe, 
>with guy led to each bow, sheets to stern quarters of the boat.
>
>I can't think why an assymetric spinnaker would be better for me - 
>given how easy it is to gybe a symmetric one, and how I'd have to 
>arrange a foot tackle to position the tack of an assymetric one 
>properly after gybing.  But I can be convinced otherwise!
>
>But I have read about some offshore sailors using screechers and 
>code 0's effectively offshore as their main downwind sails, because 
>they can furl easier than they can douse a chute.  I see these as 
>better reaching sails, say from 60 true (when winds are light) to 
>150 true at best.
>
>I'm happy with the boat's performance reaching with the genoa in 
>lighter winds (though maybe not when fully loaded for cruising) that 
>I think the screacher type sail choice is not required.
>
>So ... what do you think I should get?

         Based on what you have already it would seem to me that what 
is missing from your inventory is what you are suggesting, a downwind 
spinnaker, and 1.5 ounce is a better weight for a cruising sail than 
.75 ounce.  Do get a good snuffer however, I gather that some of them 
do not always deliver the faultless control touted.

         Roy Mills


>Thanks all,
>
>Evan Gatehouse
>
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Alter your subscription details or unsubscribe at the bottom of this page:
>http://www.steamradio.com/mailman/listinfo/multihulls
>
>Multihulls mailing list      (Multihulls at steamradio.com)