I have a nearly new asymmetrical spinnaker from Elliot-Pattison. I normally fly it single handed, but it takes a bit of effort to set it up. No poles are used. Long sheets run to the stern on either side, and are lead around the forestay, so the sail can by jibed without dropping it. Tack is to a line to a block on the stem and back to the cockpit. You can adjust the luff tension that way.
It will close reach to maybe 60 or 70 degrees to the wind when all is set and adjusted right. But in very light air when you need it the most, I notice the tendency is to gain some speed...the wind dies....but the boat is still moving so the apparent wind shifts forward....the sail luffs...you fall off....gain speed....wind drops...etc. Bottom line is you tend to get pushed off the wind to well below a beam reach. Or maybe it's just me not knowing how to fly the thing. I think it's also a given than in light air days, the only gusts of wind you will get are shortly AFTER you hoist the thing. I think I'm batting about 80% on this one. Pretty exciting to be flying that too close to a lee shore and have 10 knots of wind show up out of no where. If I was only going a few miles...even in light air, I'd tough it out with the 155 genny....unless I was racing and had crew. But if you are doing 10 mile + crossing....and have some air....it may double your speed over the smaller sail. Going from 1 or 2 knots up to 2 to 4 is a big advantage then. Howard M17, #278 Audasea On 9/15/05 9:48 PM, "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Tom: > I'm very interested in and asymmetrical spinnaker (A-sail) for the M17. > The symmetrical spinnaker is a bother for single handing, although I've > done it with my M15. > > Anybody know of an A-sail for an M17? I think it could be flown from > the bow pulpit rather than a bow pole, but that may be optimistic. > --Gary Hyde > N24 'Sailabration' > M17 #637 'Hydeaway2' > M15 #235 'Vanilla' _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
