spinnaker
Sign in to savethumb|upright=1.0|Amante, a 1983 "Choate 48" in Newport Beach, California, in February 2015 flying a symmetric spinnaker thumb|Bear of Britain, a Farr Yacht Design|Farr 52 with masthead spinnaker in front of [[Calshot Spit]]
Article
17 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Types
- Symmetric
- Parasailor
- Asymmetric
- Cruising
- Code Zero
- Ratings
- Setting the sail
- Symmetric
- Asymmetric
- Dousing socks
- Spinnaker launching and dousing systems
- Spinnaker chutes
- Other uses
- References
- External links
thumb|upright=1.0|Amante, a 1983 "Choate 48" in Newport Beach, California, in February 2015 flying a symmetric spinnaker thumb|Bear of Britain, a Farr Yacht Design|Farr 52 with masthead spinnaker in front of [[Calshot Spit]]
A spinnaker is a sail designed specifically for sailing off the wind on courses between a reach (wind at 90° to the course) to downwind (course in the same direction as the wind). Spinnakers are constructed of lightweight fabric, usually nylon, and are often brightly colored. They may be designed to perform best as either a reaching or a running spinnaker, by the shaping of the panels and seams. They are attached at only three points and said to be flown.