Looking at different boats that sail with spinnakers, I have noticed a (seemingly) large variation in sail size. The I20 uses ~250ft2, while I have heard of H20s using ~350ft2, and N6.0s using even bigger. As far as I can tell, these are all normal asymmetrical spinnakers (not hooters or reachers, which I would expect to be a little smaller and flatter). What performance difference is there in having that extra 100ft2+ sail area? (is “sail area king” or is a flatter sail faster?) Is there really that big a difference in what makes an I20, H20, and N6.0 go best? Also, as a side note, what size are typical hooter/reachers?
David
N5.8
Just for reference:
I 18 chute ~250 ft^2
I 20 ~ 270
Nacra 6.0
class chute
350^2
Worrell type 6.0 chute 420-480^2
There is always a trade off in spinnaker size. In high wind a small flat chute is as fast and more versitile then a larger chute. In very light winds a small chute is better also.
In medium winds ie 5-15 a large chute can be much faster downwind.
Eric