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If you are going to try and reach high with the spinnaker (often in distance racing or when sailing to an offset mark) you should ease the tack line several inches to let the spinnaker rotate more.


Interesting, some headsails like a tight luff for sailing closer to the wind (jib, Screecher/hooter) and looser to sail deeper. True? Why would a cat assymetrical spin be different?

I am not doubting the accuracy of your trim method, but may do some testing. I am assuming you loosen the spin/gen because it is fuller than the jib/screecher and you need the extra "play" to effectively trim the luff curl. I wonder at what "fullness" of sail cut that it becomes beneficial to ease the luff?

What about symmetrical spins? I thought you eased the spin halyard tension to go deep and tighten to go high (thinking of J-22). Mmmmm....may not be applicable since the speeds/apparent wind are so much different.


The soft-luff spinnaker is designed for an apparent wind angle around 90 degrees. If you are trying to run it considerably higher, the front collapses because it is so full and soft. I'm not sure if the sail actually flattens when you ease the tack line or if it helps because it simply lets the sail rotate around to the side more where it can catch wind at a better angle. While this does help keep the sail full it makes the sailing goove extremely narrow and the spin sheet loads are really tough on the crew. We spent about 50% of last year's Tybee tight reaching with the chute. The angle was so high that we were probably only gaining about 1/10 of a knot.

Jake Kohl