36i Performance spinnakers

[rm]

Can anyone help with advice on the dimensions for symmetrical and asymmetrical spinnakers for a 36i Performance version? (Luff, leech and foot measurements).

For the asymmetrical I am interested in measurements for both bowsprit and non bowsprit mounted versions.

If specific info is not available, any info would be appreciated particularly how to calculate the luff length for an asymmetrical in relation to measurements "i" (14.07m/ 46'2") and "j" (4.02m/13'2") and taking account of the space that a sock takes up above the flying sails.

For cloth weight I am assuming .75oz for a symmetrical and 1.5oz for an asymmetrical. Both for multipurpose cruising and club racing when conditions are 5 - 20 knots.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[MartyB]

I think you will find that AS spins use the same cloth as sym spins in general speaking manner. At least when I have looked at upgrading my AS to a larger one for my boat, BOTH AS and Sym spins come in .6oz cloth wts. Granted I am going with a excellent strength quality for racing, still both were the same wt.

"IF" you were going to do a BIG one for say 0-15 maybe 20 knots max, then I would get a .6 -.75 cloth, if you want one that would go 10-30, then a bit smaller, and 1.5oz cloth for the higher winds. Reality, for me, the smaller would be 15-35 maybe 40 knots of wind speed, and be about 60-70% of the lighter cloth in sq footage/meters depending upon how you measure down in OZ.

Marty

[rm]

Thanks Marty. That helps our thinking and we will probably go for a lighter weight than originally assumed for the asymmetric due to the wind range we would normally choose to use it in.

rm

[offshore]

Hi

We have a standard 36i with symmetrical spinnakers. Our spinnaker pole is 4.2m in length and our general purpose spinnaker has a foot of 7m and a luff length of13.7m. It is manufactured from .9 oz cloth and we have no trouble running it in 20knots if the wind is behind 110 degrees. If the wind is further forward we tend to be overpowered and round up from time to time. For stronger winds we have a smaller 1.5 oz kite that we have run in breezes of 30knots with the wind well behind us. We are currently having a larger kite made in 1/2 oz cloth for lighter breeze. There are photos of our boat with these sails up in the owners photo gallery.

Your boat has 30cm of extra mast and a slightly deeper keel so your luff length would need to be a little longer and with the deeper keel you should be a bit more stable.

The best kites should be made of cloth of only one colour as then it will be all from one batch. Some colours are not very popular and may have been sitting on the shelf for a year. White cloth is nearly always the strongest as the dying process lowers the strength of the cloth a small amount.

Regards

Barry
(Jeanneau 36i "Bad Habits")

[rm]

Thanks Barry. Those photos give a good appreciation of the different conditions and spinnaker selection. I had a 1.5oz asymmetric on my previous boat which wasn't too bad all round, but not quite right in light conditions. So will probably go for the .75oz with this one and get more use out of it when the wind drops right off. I think it comes down to personal requirements in the end as some sail makers tend to suggest heavier material, probably meaning well but also partially to cover themselves in case of stretch or early demise of the sail.

regards, rm

[MartyB]

Another thing that you may want to look at when ordering an AS, which it sounds like you are leaning towards. Is the cuts can be made in some slightly different shapes. If you get a IIRC flatter cut, you can also reach, or even point in lighter winds with it. Hence why the Sail maker you are talking to may be recommending 1.5oz cloth for the AS. Others can be fuller if you will, and will not reach, but will do well more directly down wind, these could be done with a lighter cloth. If it is really flat, you may end up with more of a code 0 shape, which are really ment to be large genoa's if you will, in lighter to moderate airs. For a boat like yours, something in the 150-160% of fore-triangle would help in the upwind modes to say 10 knots. You would want this sail to be in the 1.5 to maybe 3oz range if available.

Make sure as I think you are figuring out, that the sail is made to YOUR useage requirements, and as such, it could be of lighter material than initially recommended, then again.......the initial may be what you want. It sounds like you want more of a runner style AS, which will be as big as you can get, and to a degree, lighter cloth. Some clothes, like what I am looking at, .6oz, is stronger than my .75 that I currently have.

Marty

[flightdeck]

Hi RM,

Sounds like you are at the over-thinking point, let me help by adding some more thinking points. What size crew do you normally have, how good are they. More crew are needed for the symmetrical than the Aso, a well shaped Aso can be used in a broad wind angel and yes at time you may need to sail like a skiff to keep speed up. We have only 1 kite on our SO32 an Aso, I like it, easy to handle and use by 2. It's made from 0.9oz and as long as we do the skiff thing we can fly it in very light winds. Poor quality picture, but only 2 crew in a light breeze.
No help just my 2C.
Cheers

[rm]

Thanks again Marty and also Flightdeck. Definitely right about the "overthinking". We decided on a .75oz asymmetric with sock, as its mainly for cruising two handed and only to hoist in light breezes to get moving, instead of motoring. Its to be dowsed before 15 knots, but we all know how unpredictable that can be. Hope it sets like the purple asymmetric on Flightdeck in the photo above.

cheers, rm

[MartyB]

How about that one too! or this one, 8 knots in 15-20 knots of wind




Sounds like you have made the correct choice for size and wind range.

Marty

[flightdeck]

Good one RM,
You will have fun with it, let me know if you need contact's for my sailmaker, he is local to Brisbane / Manly.
Do think...there's that thinking again twice about using a cheap O/S loft, have seen too many just not right sails and all of a sudden the internet connection doesn't work.

Cheers