A gennaker is a downwind sail that can be described as a cross between a genoa and a spinnaker. It is asymmetric like a genoa, but not attached to the forestay over the full length of its luff (like a genoa). The gennaker has a larger camber than a genoa, making it optimal for generating lift at larger angles of attack, but the camber is signficantly less than that of a spinnaker. A sail is a surface intended to generate thrust by being placed in a wind; basically it is a vertically oriented wing. ... A genoa (pronounced like the city, or as jenny) is a type of large jib-sail used on sloop-rigged craft. ... A spinnaker is a special sail that is designed specifically for sailing downwind (with the wind behind the boat). ...
The gennaker is a specialty sail primarily used on racing boats, bridging the performance gap between a genoa, which develops maximum driving force when the apparent wind angle is between 35 and 60 degrees, and a spinnaker, which has maximum power when the apparent wind is between 100 and 140 degrees. Due to its geometry, the sail is less prone to collapsing than a spinnaker and does not require the use of spinnaker pole. The lines between gennaker and asymmetric spinnaker are blurry; they are both high camber downwind sails, rigged similarly to a genoa. The difference is the amount of camber, which dictates the points of sail. A gennaker is optimal for a beam reach, while an asymmetric spinnaker is optimal for a broad reach or run.
A race is a competition of speed. ... Points of sail is the term used to describe a sailing boats course in relation to the wind direction. ... Points of sail is the term used to describe a sailing boats course in relation to the wind direction. ... Points of sail is the term used to describe a sailing boats course in relation to the wind direction. ...
A gennaker is a recently-developed sail used when sailing downwind; it can be described as a cross between a genoa and a spinnaker.
The gennaker is a specialty sail primarily used on racing boats, bridging the performance gap between a genoa, which develops maximum driving force when the apparent wind angle is between 35 and 60 degrees, and a spinnaker, which has maximum power when the apparent wind is between 100 and 140 degrees.
The gennakerhalyard is endless, running down through the centre of the gennaker, so as the crew pulls the centre of the gennaker to drop it, they are also hauling the halyard down - more on that later.
The gennaker is set up while still on the trailer: the crew hoists the gennaker first, then releases the halyard while hauling on the part of the gennakerhalyard in the cockpit which is now the chute cord, to pull the gennaker into the chute, or tunnel.
To drop the gennaker, the crew releases the prod, which retracts automatically on its bungie, and hauls on the chute cord to bring the gennaker in through the tunnel.