Spinaker A-sym or Symetrical

[capn_billl]

I am looking for new sails for an Aquarius 23, one of the sails I would like to have is some kind of downwind calm day sail. What are the advantages and dissadvantages of each type?

[cal40john]

A-Sym advantages, no pole to set up, easier to control. Dis-advantage is you can't sail it as far downwind as a symmetrical. Not an issue if you don't care where you're going, just want to go faster. It's not that you can't go downwind, you'd just make better progress with a sym, again probably not an issue for a cruiser. Also not an issue if you have a Melges 32 or something similar since it planes it is faster to sail the higher angles to make the best progress downwind.

John

[capn_billl]

Simplicity and ease of use are my main criteria. I'm a cruiser that just wants more sail on a calm day.

[MarkSF]

Originally Posted by cal40john

A-Sym advantages, no pole to set up, easier to control. Dis-advantage is you can't sail it as far downwind as a symmetrical. Not an issue if you don't care where you're going, just want to go faster. It's not that you can't go downwind, you'd just make better progress with a sym, again probably not an issue for a cruiser. Also not an issue if you have a Melges 32 or something similar since it planes it is faster to sail the higher angles to make the best progress downwind.

John

Coming home I do a 4 mile run down an estuary, it's quite narrow, and the wind is always directly behind. If I used the A-sym, I'd be constantly gybing it - and it doesn't really like gybing. Or is it me that doesn't like gybing it?

Anyway the best plan for me, as I never have the crew for a symmetrical, is a large genoa and a whisker pole.

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by capn_billl

Simplicity and ease of use are my main criteria. I'm a cruiser that just wants more sail on a calm day.

If you are downwind more than broad reaching or training run the symmetrrical will do better.

If you are single handing you will likely find you don't fly either very often. I have both on my boat and don't fly it with less than 3 on board that know what they are doing + Otto to free up another pair of hands.

You may be happier with a large and light genoa.

[cfarrar]

What Dan says, though we often fly the A-sym with 2 on board (plus Otto). I don't use it single handed.

[Jim Cate]

On a boat as small as an A-23 the symmetrical kite shouldn't be very hard to handle. I had one on a CAtalina 22 years ago and had lots of fun with it.

Cheers,

Jim

[sonaps]

Get the biggest A-sym you can handle and fly it from a pole also.
I do it solo on a 36' CS Merlin

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

On a boat as small as an A-23 the symmetrical kite shouldn't be very hard to handle. I had one on a CAtalina 22 years ago and had lots of fun with it.

Cheers,

Jim

With a 23 foot boat I am presuming that CapBill is in shore and not on a lot of long tacks. I don't see how to successfully gybe the pole solo even with Ottos help.

I suppose one could haul the pole well back, gybe and then go reset the pole. Bit of a PITA for me especially near traffic.

Then the douse is interesting. Halyard, sheet, brace, wrestle the sail. Oh, well... Would be nice if Otto could work the bow...

Asym on the bow fitting with a tacker, sock and Otto, probably a lot easier. But a 3oz 150 gennie may be the ticket.

[Bash]

Don't use either unless the optional backstay was installed on that boat.

I'm not crazy about the idea of using a spinnaker on a centerboarder. Too easy to put the boat on its ear. It's fine on a racing dink that's designed to plane, but on a trailer sailor you're asking for trouble.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by sonaps

Get the biggest A-sym you can handle and fly it from a pole also.
I do it solo on a 36' CS Merlin

This is some really bad advice for the OP's boat. What works, arguably, for a Merlin 36 might not be appropriate for an Aquarius 23.

Check the boat before you advise someone on how to sail it.

[sonaps]

Originally Posted by Bash

This is some really bad advice for the OP's boat. What works, arguably, for a Merlin 36 might not be appropriate for an Aquarius 23.

Check the boat before you advise someone on how to sail it.

It is obvious I am more capable the you bash

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Bash

Don't use either unless the optional backstay was installed on that boat.

I'm not crazy about the idea of using a spinnaker on a centerboarder. Too easy to put the boat on its ear. It's fine on a racing dink that's designed to plane, but on a trailer sailor you're asking for trouble.

Details, details... Please don't confuse the discussion with facts and physics - LOL

Does the mast even have a spare halyard? Plus pole lift, plus pole down. Maybe spinakker winches...

Big light genny, sail the angles... Assuming hanked on, prepare to drop early...

@capnBill - how is your light wind sailing? Everyone can drive fast in 12 knots. Races are won in shifts, tacks and light winds...

Drift warning. I am sailing with a crew now that gets very cranky in light airs. After 3 good finishes I am slowly convincing them that light airs are their friend. This weekend we passed and pulled away from a boat that gives us 6 minutes. I was focusing them on sail shaping, reading the puffs, active trimming to accelerate, pointing up in the gusts and bearing off in the lulls to preserve boat momentum. Each shift and puff gained us a 1/2-1 boat length. When we stretched out 10 lengths (after being overlapped at the top mark) the crew was quite chuffed with themselves.

The end of the race finished with two long tacks in strong conditions and was a non-event. The race was won in light airs, not strong. We beat the Dehler 39 by about 1 1/2 minutes on the water. Of course our club actively manages handicaps and our adjusted 2nd place got 2 minutes knocked off our number for the next race - LOL

[bobconnie]

Give me a Big Genny, or twin jibs wing and wing anytime down wind ! rather point off a bit and roll less, Just my 2 cents Bob and Connie

[pillum]

I had a Chrysler 20 (swing keel) for a couple of seasons. We flew a symmetrical kite a couple of times and it performed real well both running and broad reaching. I only flew it with at least one other crew aboard, I wouldn't have tried it by myself. If you do, carry a sharp knife...