Passport 37 Spinnakers

[Mel & Chris]

We are considering buying a spinnaker for our Passport 37 and curious if anyone can share their experiences with an asymmetrical or symmetrical spinnaker for their P37. We may be able to get a symmetrical for a good deal, so are trying to decide if it is worth carrying aboard when a 135 genoa doesn't quite cut it. 

Thanks!

Mel 

SV Someday Isle

[Kyle L]

We got a good deal on our symmetrical for our P40. In the PNW, there is a lot of dead downwind sailing heading north and south between the islands and Seattle. So we are really happy to have good downwind performance. In light winds, it does not matter how big your genoa is; the cloth is typically too heavy to fill. If you want to turn a really boring motor into a fun sail, a spinnaker is a great way to do it. Note the sail is only part of the cost. You will need sheets, potentially guys, a pole, blocks, and more. I laughed when we got our $400 spinnaker but then spent twice that on rigging. I can certainly see advantages of an asym, but I also see advantages of the symmetrical. I think it's one of those things where you can spend all day debating and not do anything, so I decided to just go the cheap/easy route and sail!

[Kenyon Stewart]

The cut of a modern asym is more efficient as an airfoil than a symmetric spinnaker.  To go deeper, If you have a spinnaker pole, you can pole it out to windward similar to a symmetric one.  If you don't have a solid spinnaker pole and all the rigging, then you won't be able to go as deep.  Don't listen to anyone who tells you that using an asym and sailing hotter angles is faster than going as deep as you can towards your course.  It is faster in very fast boats, but that doesn't apply to any of our boats.  There is better sail handling gear for asymmetrics to make them easier to set and douse.  So for me, it would be a good asym with a good furling system or sock used more like a symmetric sail with the pole and all the controls.

Kenyon

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