What is the weight of a spinnaker?

Typically, cruising spinnakers come in two weights—0.75oz or 1.5oz. Anything heavier than that is a storm spinnaker; anything lighter is for zephyrs on a truly windless day. The lighter the cloth weight, the better the kite will fly in light airs.

Can you use a spinnaker pole as a whisker pole?

A spinnaker pole with a declared length not longer than 1.1 * ‘J’ can be used as a whisker pole to trim headsails.

How do you size a spinnaker?

The rule of thumb for the spinnaker size is the luffs = I. The foot should be between 1.6 x J and 2 x J. Many cruising boats are now using “Poleless Spinnakers.” The luff on poleless spinnakers should not exceed the I or the full size genoa luff. The foot should be between 1.6 and 1.8 x J.

What type of spinnaker do cruising boats almost always use?

Spinnaker: The traditional spinnaker is a symmetrical sail, with either edge able to serve as the leading edge or luff, and is almost always used with a spinnaker pole. Most efficient type when sailing at deep downwind angles.

Do you need a topping lift for a whisker pole?

Rigging the Whisker Pole Whisker poles do need a topping lift to support their weight, especially in light air. Gravity will pull them down and aft on the jib sheet if not supported. The topping lift keeps the pole level and allows for better sail shape.

How long should a whisker pole be?

A whisker pole should be approxi- mately as long as the foot of the sail you intend to pole out. * Max available SPL with composite end fittings, attached to a fixed mast ring. If the pole is to be “Dip Gybe”, max available SPL is increased by 165 mm.

What is J dimension?

“J” is the base of the foretriangle measured along the deck from the headstay to the mast. “JC” is the greater of the following three dimensions: “J”, the length of the spinnaker pole, or the maximum width of the spinnaker divided by 1.8.

How large should a sail be?

The ideal sailboat size to sail around the world is between 35 and 45 feet long. This length will ensure a high enough maximum hull speed, good handling in high waves, and enough cargo capacity to carry multiple weeks of food and water. Longer boats will perform as well, but are more expensive too.