Asemetric Spinnaker

[Joe Nelson CS#35]

Is there any chance of rigging an asemetric spinnaker with a retracting Spi Pole on any of the Cat ketch designs? I have raced on a boat with one and love them! Specifically wondering about the Princess 26.

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[Brent]

These asymetrical chutes are fun to sail. I think you will find that on a cat ketch, with the main mast so far forward, a very long spinaker sprit will be needed to catch any significant amount of air in an asymetrical chute. The result would be like a skipjack with that huge bow sprit out front. I suppose that would work.

Before going head long into mods on your boat try this: With the boat on a deep reach, swing the main sail to windward and let it go some forward of the main mast. Then fly your staysail with the foot tied to windward. Keep the mizzen to leward. If this isn't enough sail area, then I guess you will need a chute. :wink: My boat is usually roaring along when configured this way.

[Rob Blackburn]

This is weird. I was looking at that picture in Wooden Boat too and thinking....

I often have the main to windward and forward of the main mast on a deep reach and find it works well. It is like that obsession in Laser sailing of sailing by the leach downwind... tricky to do to the last 1%.

Having had a Norwalk Island Sharpie I was thinking that that would be a heavy boat to hold all that up in the breeze. I think the CS hull shape is far more efficient and driven easier.

Our masts are all finished and we are off this weekend for the first test. Something else will break next time as these masts are not coming down.

Rob