Neilson's guide to asymmetric spinnaker sailing: dinghy edition

First off, there are two types of spinnaker for dinghies – asymmetric and symmetric. 

An asymmetric spinnaker is flown from a pole coming out from the bow of the boat, called a bowsprit. A symmetric spinnaker uses a spinnaker pole, which is a pole attached to the front of the mast to hold the sail out. 

The clue is in the name with both of these sails; the symmetric spinnaker’s luff and leech are an even length, making it a symmetrical shape. The symmetric spinnaker sits directly in front of the boat and is thus ideal for running dead downwind. 

The asymmetric has a longer leech than its luff, and sits to one side of the bow, making it great for reaches. Both spinnakers can be gybed with the boat, but they have different tactics for doing so.  

Our dinghies with an asymmetric spinnaker include the RS 200, RS 500, RS 16 catamaran, Laser 2000, Laser Bahia, Dart 16, Vago, Topper Argo, Omega, Topaz 14CX, Topax 16CX, and Vibe.  Our only dinghy with a symmetric spinnaker is the Wayfarer. 

When rigging, it’s key to keep all the lines outside the shrouds and jib, as the spinnaker flies outside of the boat. On land, face the boat head to wind to lessen the likelihood of the sail catching the wind. 

Attach the sail’s tack to the bowsprit with a bowline. Then grasp the foot of the sail and, using both hands, edge down the foot to the clew of the spinnaker to ensure the sail isn’t twisted. Attach the head of the sail to the uphaul, and draw the downhaul through the rings and attach to the patch on the centre of the spinnaker. 

The sheets are attached to the clew, led back through blocks on the side of the boat, and into the cockpit, where you need to tie them together. 

Before you head out onto the water, turn the boat into the wind and hoist the spinnaker to ensure it flies correctly. Don’t hang about with it up – a quick check will be enough before you can drop, and head out. 

When you’re ready to hoist the spinnaker, the helm will need to bear away downwind to reduce the pressure on the rig. When you’re ready, the crew should stand in the centre of the boat, in a semi-crouch, and pull on the halyard, hand over hand, as fast as possible. 

When the spinnaker is fully out, the crew grasps the spinnaker sheet and sheets in, while the helm steers onto a broad reach to fill the sail.

When the spinnaker is flying, the crew needs to concentrate on it at all times. Keep an eye on the leech – the sweet spot is to have it trimmed so roughly 6 inches start to curl inwards. Any more and the sail will depower and flap, any less and the spinnaker might be too tight in, stifling the wind and adding pressure to the rig. 

It might feel scary the first few times you do it, but it’s really very easy for the crew to gybe the spinnaker. As with all manoeuvres, communication is key. 

Once the helm and crew have agreed they’re good to go, the crew uncleats the jib and begins to pull on the other side of the spinnaker sheet as the boat begins to turn. Once you’re through the gybe, cleat the jib on the new side, and ease out the spinnaker sheet until the sail is flying. 

By pulling on the sheet early, the crew helps the spinnaker across the front of the boat, allowing them to get the sail filled and flying as soon as possible post-gybe.

When you’re ready to drop the spinnaker, the crew jumps into the centre of the boat and plants a foot either side of the centreboard. Staying on foot, the crew takes hold of the spinnaker downhaul and pulls in the slack, hand over hand. Once the line goes tight, you’ll need to flick the halyard cleat off, then quickly pull the spinnaker down hand over hand. These movements need to be quick, and each heave long, to save the spinnaker from going in the water as much as possible.

Once the spinnaker is safely back in its sock, and the crew has pulled the pole in, they need to jump back on the side, take hold of the jib sheet, and hike or trapeze as normal. 

First off, this is totally normal and very easily rectifiable, so don’t panic! 

It’s important to drop the spinnaker before you right the boat, so the crew needs to swim into the cockpit of the capsized boat. If the boat has turtled, get the helm to pull on the centreboard until the boat comes up to lie horizontally on the water. 

Once the crew is in the cockpit, pull in the slack and uncleat the halyard cleat as you would upright. Then pull in the spinnaker hand over hand until it’s back in its sock. The crew also needs to uncleat the jib to save it pulling the boat over the other the other way when righted.  

Once you’ve got the boat righted, and both helm and crew are back on board, the crew can tidy the ropes and get sailing again! 

If you’ve never sailed with an asymmetric spinnaker before, welcome to a whole new world of brilliant sailing! Can’t wait to get started? We’ll see you on the water!