- What Is an Asymmetrical Spinnaker?
- What are the Benefits of an Asymmetrical Spinnaker?
- Asymmetrical vs. Symmetrical Spinnaker
- How to Choose the Right Asymmetrical Spinnaker
- What are the design and construction specs of your asymmetric spinnakers?
- Cloth-seams
- Panel layout
- Choice of colors
- Dimensions available in feet and meters
- Contact us today to get started
An asymmetrical spinnaker is a versatile, easy-to-handle downwind sail designed for cruising and performance sailing. Unlike symmetrical spinnakers, asymmetrical designs are optimized for simplicity, stability, and efficiency at a range of 80-155 AWA (Apparent wind angle) — making them ideal for short-handed sailors and cruising boats.
1. What Is an Asymmetrical Spinnaker?
An asymmetrical spinnaker is a downwind sail designed with an asymmetrical shape; it has a distinct luff longer than the leech that assumes a generous curve when flying, creating a different profile than a traditional symmetrical spinnaker. It is typically tacked to a bowsprit or anchor roller and trimmed with a single sheet.
Key Features:
- Easier handling compared to symmetrical spinnakers
- Ideal for reaching and broad reaching
- Excellent for cruising and short-handed sailing
2. What are the Benefits of an Asymmetrical Spinnaker?
The asymmetrical design allow for an easy set up: unlike symmetrical spinnakers, there is no need for a spinnaker pole or extra hardware, and you can set them up forward of the stay or between the forestay and the mast. They are also easy to jibe.
1. Easy to Use
Asymmetrical spinnakers are simple to deploy, trim, and douse, making them perfect for cruisers or small crews.
2. Versatile Performance
They perform well across a wide range of wind angles, typically from 80° to 155° apparent wind.
3. Improved Downwind Speed
In light to moderate winds, an asymmetrical spinnaker significantly increases boat speed compared to sailing with just a genoa or mainsail.
4. Ideal for Cruising
No pole, fewer lines, and simpler handling make asymmetrical spinnakers a top choice for cruising sailors.
In short, asymmetrical spinnakers are easy to sail and versatile. They are ideal for sailors who want a multi-purpose cruising spinnaker.
You can also use a spinnaker dousing sock for even more simplicity.
3. Asymmetrical vs. Symmetrical Spinnaker
Asymmetrical spinnakers typically cover a AWA range of 80-155 where as symmetrical spinnaker cover a AWA range of 110-180.
| Feature | Asymmetrical Spinnaker | Symmetrical Spinnaker |
|---|---|---|
| Handling | Easier, quicker set up | More complex |
| Equipment | No pole required | Requires pole |
| Best Use | Reaching / cruising | Deep downwind |
| Crew Size | Small crew | Larger crew |
Bottom line:
If you prioritize ease of use and versatility, an asymmetrical spinnaker is the better choice.
4. How to Choose the Right Asymmetrical Spinnaker
You can consult our detailed page here on how to choose the right spinnaker for you.
We offer detailed help with spinnaker sizing, often seen as the main question by our customers.
As an alternative to an asymmetric spinnaker, you can consider a Cruising Code 0, which has an AWA of 60-140 but can be used with a regular furler and is as easy to use as a genoa.
5. Our Asymmetrical Spinnaker Design & Specifications
There is no such thing as a (regulated) standard design or practices for spinnaker manufacturing, as you may find in other businesses (such as automobile constructions, building codes, etc.). There are practices that are more or less accepted across the industry, but these will vary depending on the sailmaker and the product they are trying to deliver. Here are details about our (iSpinnakers / iSails) cruising asymmetrical spinnakers designs.
Both our standard cut and custom cut asymmetrical spinnakers are made with great attention to quality and details. Explore their main features, such as cloth, seams, number of panels guaranteeing quality and more. (Custom cuts may use a different cloth).
We offer standard asymmetrical spinnaker sizes that can fit a range of boats. If you prefer, we can build a custom spinnaker specifically designed for your boat, which will maximize its square footage, allow a specific shape and cloth selection for your cruising or racing conditions, provide custom finishes etc.
2. asymmetrical Spinnaker – Cloth and specs
- Our standardized asymmetrical spinnaker sails have an A2 Tri-Radial cut.
- Premium spinnaker cloth: we only use first choice Contender cloth (a Dutch company) as our standard cloth, and also use first choice Challenge (US company) cloth depending on the color needed :
- Nylite or NFS 44 for spinnaker size 00 (291 sq ft) to size 5 (689 sq ft)
- Maxilite or NFS 64 75gr/m2 for spinnaker size 6 (807 sq ft) to size 18 (2851 sq ft)
- Our sails are double taped to ensure the panels are exactly where they need to be, then triple stitched, 50mm wide. Triple stitch allows the seam to stretch with the fabric rather than snap under heavy loads.
- We use webbed rings at the corners, (no pressed rings)
- We design our asymmetrical spinnakers so that our panel size has a maximum width of 40 cm (smaller sails) or 50 cm (larger sails).
- Our sails have radial corner reinforcements with underlying Dacron patches, which distribute the load better than round patches
- Clearly labeled head, foot and clew for ease of hoist and packing; you can choose your colors
- Color coded edge tapes; you can choose your colors
Details of tack, clew and head finishes
Details of seams
2. asymmetrical Spinnaker – panel layout
Each spinnaker size is cut with a number of panels that ensures a solid “construction”. The number of panels affects the strength of the spinnaker; more panels means better resistance to the stress the sail undergoes when flown. This number of panels is specific to each sailmaker. Our panel size has a maximum width of 40 cm (smaller sails) or 50 cm (larger sails)
As an example, here are the panel layout for 3 sizes of our asymmetrical spinnakers: size 3 (50m2 / 538 sqft), size 8 (94m2 / 1011 sqft) and size 13 (165 m2 / 1775 sqft). A standard asymmetric spinnaker for your boat will have a number of panels which may be different from those shown below, depending on the size you need.
2. asymmetrical spinnaker – Choice of colors
You have 2 options price-wise for our standard cut spinnakers:
Option 1: Choose the standard Star Design and choose up to 3 colors to make it your own. See spinnaker base price instructions here.
Option 2: select your own color theme by selecting a color for each panel.
Access our colorizer here and select “custom colors asymmetrical spinnakers” in our online store.
You can also add logos and prints.
Build your own asymmetrical spinnaker
Choose from 13 colors and personalize your spinnaker
Add a logo!