spinnakers

Spinnakers are a family of large, lightweight sails designed for sailing downwind. They are flown from the bow area on a dedicated halyard and controlled with sheets, and on larger boats a spinnaker pole may hold the sail’s luff forward. Spinnakers are typically made from nylon or laminated fabrics and are often brightly colored for visibility.

There are two main types. Symmetrical spinnakers are balloon-shaped sails that require a spinnaker pole and two sheets plus a guy. They perform best on broad reaches and runs when the wind is well behind the boat, and they are commonly used on racing yachts. Asymmetric spinnakers, commonly known as gennakers, are cut differently and do not require a pole; they are flown from a bowsprit or deck hardware and are easier to handle on many boats, usable over a wider range of downwind angles.

Other downwind sails related to spinnakers include the code zero, a lightweight, close-reaching sail that sits between a jib and a spinnaker in performance. While not a true spinnaker, it fills a similar role in increasing speed at moderate wind angles.

Handling spinnakers requires teamwork and careful sail management, especially during hoists, jibes, and potential wraps. Proper fabric choice, sail size, and trim influence performance, stability, and safety on a downwind run.