Gennakers

I've continued researching and learning about downwind sailing. No study would be complete without including an asymmetrical spinnaker (aka a Gennaker). Affectionately called a Gennaker because it's a cross between a genoa headsail and spinnaker. A gennaker attaches to the mast, bow and sheet like a headsail. The sail shape is distinctly spinnaker. Absent is a spinnaker pole. Unlike a genoa, a gennaker is not not attached to the forestay along its luff.

A "cruising" gennaker is an asymmetric spinnaker with a closer head-angle and a flatter profile compared to a racing version. Because their's not spinnaker pole a gennaker is much easier to hoist and douse than traditional spinnaker. The lack of a spinnaker pole also makes a gennaker much safer as well.

One of the innovations used with a gennaker to make quick work of hoisting and dousing is a gennaker sock. Here's a video demonstrating its use:

VIDEO: Gennaker being hoised and doused with a sock

Here's a video of a singlehanded sailor hoisting a gennaker:



Any comments about the use and value of a Gennaker?

Ken