[MHml] Multihulls Digest, Vol 30, Issue 4

[Gordon Myers]

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         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
>Hi Roy, Evan-
A good compromise for a cruising spinnaker we have found is to use 1.5 oz
material in the luff section of the spinnaker and the rest in .75 oz
material. The reason for this is the highest loaded area of a spin is the
luff area, and as these sails are used for cruising in mostly light
conditions up to about 15 knots or so of true wind, then you need a sail
that isn't too heavy to fly well in the lighter conditions. Mind you, this
type of spinnaker is for cruising people that prefer to use the spinnaker in
breeze up to 15 to 18 knots of true wind and then sock it. The full 1.5 oz
spinnaker is certainly more durable if you want to carry it in a higher wind
range but tends to collapse a bit in the real light air conditions.  
Gordon Myers.- www.gmsails.com