Spinnaker/Jennaker??

[OKIsailer]

Hi  I bought a '78 CP-16 last Aug.It came with a sail that I thought to be a Spinnaker.After looking through the photo gallery I saw a picture of a sail on Dale's"Sweet 16" that he had listed as a Jennaker.I'm confused!  thanks  Geoff

[multimedia_smith]

Hi Geoff,
The difference is mainly in the shape... the gennaker is also called an "assymetric spinnaker" or "cruising spinnaker" and can be used as a giant, light air genoa for going upwind.
It can also be used in the same way as a spinnaker for running downwind either by using a pole to extend it away from the boat, or by moving the tack (front lower corner) from the bow sprit and just letting it out on one side and the clew (rear lower corner) on the other side.  This way the thing can billow out straight in front of the boat.
I've used it both ways and they work... the advantages of being able to go on a reach make the assymetrical the preferred choice IMHO.
You can find them used sometimes at places like:

http://www.mastheadsailinggear.com/UsedSailSearch.aspx

or

http://www.sailingtexas.com/csails.html

Masthead is where I got mine... they re-cut a standard to be an assymetrical

[OKIsailer]

Thanks for the information. My sail is a Gennaker( Sorry about the spelling)I'm still a little confused about the sheets.It has double sheets attached to the tack (Long ones) and double sheets (Short ones) attached to the clew. How do I rig them? Thanks for your help, and sorry about being a pain. Geoff

[multimedia_smith]

I'm not sure if the person who rigged it had it right... I have a (relatively shorter) single line on the tack and the longer line on the clew.  I had two really long lines on the clew because they have to go from the rear of the boat all the way around the bow and then back again.  I found that the slack line kept going under the boat, so I now use a single line on the clew and walk it around the forestay when I jibe.  That's right... you don't tack with one of these... it needs to blow forward around the forestay.  If is is mounted behind the forestay you can use the two lines and then jibe and pull the lines across the leading edge of the mast.
The longer edge of the assymetric goes to the bow.  Check if that's how yours is rigged.

Here is al link on their application:

http://www.ullmanventura.com/apcs.htm

also, there is a thread here in the CPYOA forum on the sheeting... try searching the archives.
I have some pics of my setup in the old gallery "owners pages" section.. here's the link for that:

http://www.com-pacowners.com/gallery2/thumbnails.php?album=49

Look on Page 3 for "Spin halyard loop" and "masthead" and page 2 for "extreme ends" for sheeting points.

Good luck

Dale

[Craig Weis]

Geoff
My asymmetrical spinnaker is simply tacked to the bow pulpit by one of two short [about 4 inch long] x 1/4 inch lines ID'ed with colored tape as port or starboard . The lines are attached to the pulpit and these colors match the factory colors of the tacks. This avoids a SNAFU.

The two long lines for each clew at 25 foot each run outside of everything and I tie off at the stern port and starbard cleats.

All four lines are fitted with 'pull-to-release' catches and NEVER switch tacks unless both tack lines are in the spinnaker grommets. Skip

[OKIsailer]

Thanks Dale & Skip.I tried to research this on my own,and was able to dig up some of my answers,but there's nothing out there like the wealth of information that is on this forum.I'm going to make the mast head system like Dale has on his boat.I'll keep you posted as to when it "Flies"  It is my Saturday to work and it is going to be 65 with 15/20 kts !Darn!  Thanks again, Geoff

[multimedia_smith]

The reason for having some extra length at the tack and head are so you can allow the sail to fill up and fly a bit away from the boat... it essentially becomes a kite.
D