spinnaker sail for swan 44

Dear all,

I m looking to buy a spinnaker sail for my boat, still hesitate between symetrical or asy. Any experience about that ? Where to fix the Asymetrical one.

Tk u and fairwinds,

César

Cesar:

I have used both symmetrical and asymmetrical spinnakers aboard my Swan 43.

I have to say the asymmetric is far easier to fly and gybe, Mine is tacked on the center line at the base of the head stay with an adjustable tack line (for different wind angles. I use no sprit or spinnaker pole and it works very well. The asymmetric also has more sail area than the symmetrical spinnaker.

Regards,

Hiro

Asymmetric Spinnaker - Swan 43 Hiro maru

That 's a beautiful picture!  A beautiful boat!

Sorta depends what you are going to use it for.  Around the buoys racing?  Longer courses?  Or cruising?  I think you'll find the asym is best and easiest for cruising and daysailing.  Symmetrical might be best for around the buoys racing.

Definetely a very nice picture Hiro!
I am surprised when you state that an assymetrical is normally larger than a spinnaker, I thought it was the opposite. On our 41 tall rig the spinnaker is supposed to be 160 m², and our assymetrical is 130m²(with a very wide head).
Would like to hear from a specialist here!
Which one is the preferred: since we sail very often with a small crew, we were not using the spinnaker any more (handling the pole is quite a job in its own!)and it stayed in its bag. Now that we have the assymetrical with a snuffer, it is very often in the air, wind direction permitting of course.
See picture in last Marciana rendez-vous, just three on bord.
Kind regards.
Philippe

Hello Philippe.

I remember seeing that spinnaker in Elba!

Due to predominantly light wind conditions in my sailing area I had the asymmetric spinnaker area made as large as possible.

It makes a big difference in boat speed when we are racing which is most of the time. I usually do not set the asymmetric spinnaker when cruising since I have never been able to get the spinnaker sock on my sail to work well so do not use it but I know others who say the sock works well.

If the wind is blowing greater than 18kts (true wind speed)we typically use the symmetrical spinnaker.

Regards,

Hiro

tk all for your answers and grea pics of swan 43

As CB says, depends on what you want to do with it. 

We mostly cruise with a small crew, three adults and a child.  We use the cruising chute on a snuffer all the time and find it very easy to handle.  I wouldnt really want to try the spinnaker without a very experienced crew due to the size of the pole and the sail itself. 

That said, the crusing chute doesnt like dead down wind, and this is where the traditional spinnaker and pole will come into its own.

 I would be interested to hear if anybody has experience with a furling chute, although I undertsand these are much more for reaching.