Search this site

Watson Sails

High performance sails for racing and cruising.

Watson Sails,
Wheatfield,
Blackwood Lane,
Malahide,
County Dublin,
Ireland

Tel./Fax. +353-1-846 2206
Mobile +353-86-255 0655

philip@watsonsails.com

Exact Location = www.loc8code.com/NL9-06-V03
News‎ > ‎

Asymmetrics/Cruising Chutes

posted Dec 8, 2009, 4:33 AM by Philip Watson   [ updated Dec 16, 2009, 4:57 AM ]
Our running asymmetric spinnakers are an excellent example of how knowledge, acquired in serious one-design racing, filters down to the cruising community.  Having had a 1720 fleet on our doorstep in Howth for over ten years, a fleet that only raced windward-leeward courses, we just had to find a way to make our spinnakers fly lower than the opposition.  We'd be the first to admit that our earliest designs were little better than "coloured genoas",  collapsing too early when you tried to sail really low.  But when we "cracked it" (in 1996) we came up with a design that still outperforms any other we've seen, or tested against since.  This running mould is winning races on J-109's, (seen here on a J-92) and many other classes that use asymmetric spinnakers.

When a cruising yacht needs to fly a spinnaker it is almost always to sail low and avoid using a pole.  Running in medium breezes, only very light planing yachts can gain enough speed by sailing high to usefully sail the extra distance. Our spinnaker, which can sail extra-low, is therefore the perfect shape for a cruising yacht.  Our cruising chutes are extremely stable and easy to trim too - so stable that you can cleat the sheet and steer to it.  We've even had customers say they can fly their asymmetric spinnaker with the autopilot steering!

Shape is just a part of what makes our cruising chutes special.  Size is very important too, and careful measurement is part of what we offer.  Flick through the pages of any yachting magazine and you'll see pictures of asymmetrics that are flying far too high above the bow because their luffs are too short to haul them right down to the stem/pole.  On a closer reach it is essential that the luff is long enough to bring the tack right in to the centre-line, otherwise most of the sail's power will drag you sideways rather than forwards. Contrary to what some sailmakers want you to believe "one size doesn't fit all"
Č
ą
ď
v.2
Makutu.jpg
(28k)
Philip Watson,
Dec 8, 2009, 5:34 AM
Comments