ASSYMETRICAL SPINNAKER: an 'aside' FYI

Posted By: Gary, Santana 2023A, Milwaukee
Date: 9/19/07 12:43p.m.

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As some of you guys know, I've been playing with an assym spin this season. Unfortunately, not all that often, as I really don't like to bother sailing on light air days. However, forgot to mention this. While on the Mackinac Bridge cruise last month, I drifted with no wind for several hours while SW of Beaver Island. Eventually, wind fluttered to about 4 knots (didn't bother with sails), then climbed to a NEAR constant 8 knots. Hoisted main and assymetrical, and was QUITE pleasantly suprised (and somewhat shocked, actually). See, in only an 8 knot puff, I was pulling good at 6.2, 6.4 knots. Reason it astonished me, was that I was making good a hair over 75% of the actual wind speed. Truth, I had never even contemplated that this could occur, but I rode it all the way north between Beaver and... Horse (?) Islands. Unfortunately, as the wind picked up, that percentage of speed good did NOT remain constant at 75%, but lowered. As an example (only because I don't remember the actual numbers), while in 12 knot wind, my speed good only incresed to, say, 7.3. I know that most of you guys (with Asym experience) would know this... and light air IS what I purchased it for. However, just an FYI for anyone who doesn't have any experience with them (as I was/am) who might be interested. And at that, this 75%+ speed was with my SMALLER Asym, not the larger one (which I still don't know what to do with). FYI, Gary