To any of you using a spinnaker are they worth having onboard? If so, can you let me know asymmetrical or symmetrical and what general size works on a Nonsuch.
Thank you,
David Godfrey
NS30 Classic #145 Thursday’s Child
RNSYS, Nova Scotia
David: I’m pretty sure you can find that info in the Discussion Group archives in the INA website.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
Anybody thinking of having a spinnaker on a Nonsuch should be careful of what you wish for.:
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It has to be stored on board along with its lines.
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It is prone to getting wet bringing damp gear down below.
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Our yard staff have commented that Nonsuch owner’s keep their yachts cleaner down below with no sign of mould.
I replied that it was not the owners doing better, but the design kept damp sails and lines out of the cabin. -
Do you really want to have a crew on board who knows what they are doing? Or do you need people to bark at? If so a standard rig would be more satisfying.
The usual cause for poor performance downwind is too short a mainsheet. The sail has to be let out fully which means that the choker has to be eased. Ideally you are trying to create increased windspeed over the front of the sail compared to the back creating a vacuum. This is the same principle as the lift created by a wing of an aircraft.
There is nothing more satisfying than running downwind single handed enjoying one’s lunch in a race while overtaking another yacht with its crew having to work hard to keep their spinnaker flying.
John Newell
Mascouche 26C 1
Toronto
John,
I wanted to follow up on your comment about “too short mainsheet” and not letting sail out enough on a run. Is 90° the limit? Or would it sometimes be advantageous to let it sail out past 90°? Any concerns about the effect on the sail track?
Thanks for your thoughts!
Jim Cosgrove
FATE 30U #343
Galesville, MD
We are fooling around with an asymmetrical…This one is a little small for the boat. I just bought a new one a little larger…will see how she fly’s this summer.
Yes, it takes an extra person to manage.
I looked in the archives before posting Joe but didn’t find anything on sizing of the sail. My boat does have the forward facing block so I assume this boat was set up at the factory for spinnaker if wanted. I’m looking at the spinnaker for when the wind drops enough that the main sheets in the water dragging the boom aft becomes an annoyance. Is the spinnaker worth the effort vs benefit? I would think it would be on a long haul and fairly easy to set up with a sock.
David
The original forward block was to accommodate a blooper sail which is similar but different than a asymmetrical spinnaker. The spinnaker that we show in the photo has a bout a 37 ft luff and is roughly 580 ft2. It is smaller than the main so it is arguable if there is any advantage. The newer one a recently added has a 40 ft luff, roughly 700 ft2 and should be better suited. I added the spinnaker for exactly the same reason. Ultra low wind, hardly enough to fill the heavy main sail.
John, your P = 41 and mine = 45 so looking at your current 37’ on a 26 mast, the 40’ luff on the sail I’m looking at might look the same as your pictures above. I’ll measure the sail tomorrow so hopefully has a few extra feet in the luff.
I actually made an error…the spinnaker we have now (in the pictures) has a 35ft luff approximately 500 ft2
A friend of ours with a 26 tried flying a spinnaker with a 45 ft luff and found it too big. I’m hoping the 40 will be just right 
Jim: I’ve extended my mainsheet and yes, I do go past the 90 deg angle without any problem. This ability comes in handy when I don’t want to gybe for some reason. It’s particularly helpful when racing as it enables me to stay on a starboard tack when others have to gybe.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
Thanks Joe. Do you have any full battens or are they all partial? I’m wondering if my one full batten (top) would limit my ability let the sail past 90°.
Jim Cosgrove
FATE 30U #343
Galesville, MD
Jim -
I have one full batten at the top on my NS22 and it does not cause a problem when the sail is (a fair chunk) forward of the mast. I love to sail downwind like this because, for all of the technical reasons that John Newell plus others know about and can speak to, this phenomenon simply makes the boat go faster. And (big bonus) an accidental gybe is less likely to happen.
This type of downwind sailing is a well-touted advantage of our boats. But, yes, the more full-battens (meaning: the more batten cars on the track), the more problems.
I have one of these way up top. If you look very carefully, you’ll find that this unit allows for more than a 90-degree “bend” as both sides of the actual car are angled. Plus, this all happens at the top of the mast where there is much less pressure on the sail. The lower you go (more battcars for more battens), the greater the possibility of damage to the sail track.
I’ve never had a problem with this.
Ernie A. in Toronto
I can’t say that I remember. I think it’s two and two.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
Thanks Ernie, that’s good to know. I have a strong track so my connection is different but I’ll look and see how flexible it is.
Jim Cosgrove
FATE 30U #343
Galesville, MD
Thanks Joe!
Jim Cosgrove
FATE 30U #343
Galesville, MD
Jim -
So we are both clear, the Harken Battcar that I have is the flexible part of all of this - not the sail track (which is the “T” stamped steel type that the slides grip, not an extruded track that slide inside the track), right ?? (Like this is not predicated on any bending of the actual track.)
When you say a Strong track, I guess you mean the Tides track ?? Harken (and other manufacturers) make batten car hardware that fits just about any track and I am sure will permit the sail to be “out” more than 90 degrees. (I think !! - but’ I’d triple check).
And, I’d only go with a top full batten.
Ernie A. in Toronto
Ernie,
Thanks for checking. Fortunately I did understand what you were saying. Which is good because I can get confused, a state of being that seems correlated with the number of trips I’ve taken around the sun.
I only mentioned my Tides Marine Strong track because my slides are different than yours and maybe the full batten attachment would be too. But since you and I share the same sailmaker, it’s easy enough to show your photo to Travis at Mack Sails and ask if he’s doing some similar for me.
As to full battens…yup I plan for one and only one.
New sail supposed to be ready by May 1. Hope so. I’m excited!
Jim Cosgrove
FATE 30U #343
Galesville, MD
