asymmetric spinnaker

[sawalt]

I was wondering if anyone has rigged an asymmetric spinnaker on there boat. I saw a ranger 22 a couple of weeks ago that had rigged an Adhoc sprit and was flying an asymmetric. Thought it would be a good idea for cruising. Any thoughts?

[DaveEserkaln]

I have one that I picked up on Ebay last year. I use the existing spinnaker sheets without twing lines and I run the pole downhaul through a snatch block at the stem fitting for the tack line. It works fairly well, its much simpler to use than my regular chute for shorthanded cruising.

Dave Eserkaln

Jaya #123

[Coldduck]

I have been contemplating the same thing lately. I race mostly PHRF and have been going against a J80 and have seen the merits of the Asym.

Several years ago before I bought my S2 7.9 I was looking at Hobie 33's and they have modified quite a few to use Asymetrical Spinnakers. They designate them as H33 Turbo's. It would be nice to add a sprit for PHRF and cruising but I am concerned what impact it would have on the OD eligability.

[Aeolus]

The a-sail subject came up the other day while racing PHRF at my club. Light air, 5kts or so, and I was short of crew. My usual gang all had other committments, so I drafted my parents for the day. My dad played the rail meat role while my mom served sandwiches. We went jib and main for the obvious reasons. An asymetrical would have been real useful in the down wind legs. So here's the question. Will adding an asym alter my PHRF rating? How do you tack one on at the bow, how, or is the pole still used? I'll admit I have't paid any attention to how others are setting thiers up.

Aeolus

[Jeff W]

[Will adding an asym alter my PHRF rating? is the pole still used?

Aeolus[/quote]


I'm not that spin knowledgeable, but I do know our PHRF (SWFL) has a special rule for asym. spins that I believe gives no penalty if its the same area or smaller than the class spin. No pole, only a bow sprit.

[Guest]

I've seen some boats, (not 7.9's) that have set their A-sails from the pole, set low, just over the deck so that they can pull the luff to windward. I was just wondering if that would make much of a difference, and how it might effect jibing, rules, etc.
I know that we're kind of wandering into uncharted territory here, but with all of the changes we've made to the rules over the last 5-6 years, I'm beginning to feel like we're a little bit (just a tiny bit) of a development class/one-design fleet. Could this be the acorn of our next rule change?

Again, just thnking out loud,

Aeolus

[Tom Elsen]

I've not heard of any real tests of asyms on a 7.9. So I don't have any data to share on performance. It seems as though you'd want the sprit to extend at least 4 feet off the bow though in order for the tackle to clear and for the sail to get out in the clean air. For class OD racing purposes I think it's important to consider the J105 class track record where broken sprits are pretty common mishaps on the course.

Remember, any PHRF board can do as it pleases. For a modification like an asym, they can penalize you any amount, or not. It depends (first) on your local board's rules, then on their 'guidelines', then on the action your local board wants to take. If you think it's not right, it will be up to you to appeal and to pay for the appeal. Sounds odd, but it's true.

As for the rules changes in our class, please recall that the ONLY 'development' issue is that we have allowed an aramid backstay to replace the old pinch-roller wire type. I'd call that a very very tiny bit of development.

[erock1]

I've thought of using an asym as well for cruising shorthanded. Any ideas on purchasing a sprit. I'm assuming a deck mount. Does someone make a retrofit kit, or is this something that would need to be custom made. Where do the Hobie guys get there sprits?

[Rick Ballard]

We have achieved very satisfactory results with an A-sail for shorthanded cruising, simply flying it with a tack line off the bow. I found a large D-shackle (generally sold for for mooring bouys, I think), and found I could fit the pin through an extra hole in the stem fitting. I mounted a ratchet block on the D-shackle and run about a 25' line from the tack of the sail back to the cockpit. Depending on the sailing angle, we set the tack anywhere from 6-9" above the stem on a reach, up to near the height of the bow pulpit as we go deeper. We use a Doyle sail with an ATN spinnaker sock. My wife and I have enjoyed a lot of carefree but satisfying downwind sailing with this very simple setup.