How to Fly an Asymmetrical Spinnaker for the First Time (Gennaker) (Ep.165)

I love sailing with an asymmetrical spinnaker. It's a type of sail that looks like a big balloon and gives you a lot of speed when you're sailing downwind. It's different from a gennaker, which is another type of downwind sail that is flatter and more versatile. Here's how I fly and rig my asymmetrical spinnaker on my sailboat.

First, I need to make sure that the spinnaker is packed correctly in its bag. I fold it in half along the luff (the leading edge) and then roll it up from the foot (the bottom edge) to the head (the top corner). I attach the sheets (the ropes that control the sail) to the clews (the lower corners) and tuck them inside the bag. Then I attach the halyard (the rope that hoists the sail) to the head and close the bag.

Next, I need to set up the spinnaker pole. This is a metal rod that holds the tack (the corner where the luff and the foot meet) of the spinnaker away from the mast. I attach one end of the pole to a ring on the mast and the other end to a bridle (a short rope with two loops) that goes around the bow of the boat. The bridle has a snap shackle (a metal clip that can be opened quickly) that connects to the tack of the spinnaker.

Now I'm ready to hoist the spinnaker. I make sure that the sheets are free and not tangled with anything. I ask someone to help me by pulling on the halyard while I feed the spinnaker out of the bag. As soon as the head reaches the top of the mast, I open the snap shackle and release the tack from the bridle. The spinnaker fills with wind and flies in front of the boat.

To control the spinnaker, I use the sheets and the pole. I adjust the angle of the pole by moving it up or down on the mast ring and in or out on the bridle. I adjust the tension of the sheets by pulling or easing them on the winches (metal drums that help you pull ropes). The goal is to keep the spinnaker full and smooth, without any wrinkles or folds.

To take down the spinnaker, I do everything in reverse. I attach the tack to the bridle with the snap shackle. I lower the halyard and pull in the spinnaker into its bag. I detach the pole from the bridle and then from the mast. I stow everything away until next time.

That's how I fly and rig my asymmetrical spinnaker on my sailboat. It's a lot of fun and a great way to enjoy sailing.