Asymmetrical Spinnakers Asymmetrical spinnaker, which, looks like a cross between a jib and a symmetrical spinnaker, is designed to be sailed on reaching angles. As a result, downwind sailing with an asymmetrical spinnaker is a lot like tacking upwind.
You will be jibing on
reaching angles downwind, staying away from a direct downwind course.
Asymmetrical systems for rigging, launching, setting, jibing, and retrieving the sail are also quite simple, although there are small variations from one sailboat design to another. The spinnaker pole is fixed in position in the center of the sailboat. The spinnaker pole extends out when the spinnaker is raised, and retracted when the spinnaker
is doused. The
asymmetrical spinnaker is typically launched from a chute or tube on or near the bow of the boat, making the launching and retrieving simple and easy. Finally, the asymmetrical sail, like a jib, has a fixed tack, clew, and head.
Rigging an Asymmetrical Spinnaker: 1 Find the tack and attach it to the tack line at the the spinnaker pole. Starting at the tack, run your hand up along the front edge (luff) of the sail until you reach the head. Ensure there are no twists.
2 Attach the spinnaker halyard to the head. Make sure that it is outboard and clear of the forestay and jib halyard.
3 Next run your hand down the back edge (leech) of the sail from the head to the clew.
4 Attach the spinnaker sheets to the clews. Start with the spinnaker sheet in the cockpit, run each end through the spinnaker turning block, and to the clew. The spinnaker sheets should be run outside the shrouds and and in front of the forestay. The asymmetrical spinnaker will pass in front of the forestay when jibing.
5 Now that all three corners of the sail are attached, it is time to attach the retrieval line, if equipped. The retrieval line will usually be the tail of the spinnaker halyard led forward through the launch tube or bag that comes out near the bow of the sailboat. Run the retrieval line under the spinnaker sheet and foot of the spinnaker toward the lowest dousing grommet. To attach the retrieval line to the spinnaker, thread it through the dousing grommet in the center of the sail, and tie a bowline to secure it to the top most dousing patch.
6 Pack the spinnaker by pulling on the retrieval line until it is completely inside the launcher tube or bag. Keep the spinnaker sheets taught to keep the corners near the end of the launcher and reduce twists.
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