Multi-Hull Cruising Downwind Sails

To furl or not to furl, that is the question. Even if you are sailing with a full racing crew you will need to consider handling systems to hoist and douse your reaching and running sails. These sail handling systems will make your experience smoother and easier.

BOTTOM-UP FURLERS

Bottom-up furling systems work the same way that conventional headsail roller furling systems do. The tack is fixed to the drum at the bottom. As the drum turns, the tack winds around the cable or the structured part of the luff instead of an aluminum foil. The sail furls from bottom to top. Bottom-up units are perfect for the genoa-like AWA 40 and 60 reaching sails, as the top of the sail is not too wide. The mid-girth should be around 50 percent and generally no larger than 60 to 65 percent.

TOP-DOWN FURLERS

As downwind sails get bigger and the mid-girth increases, it becomes harder to get the top of the sail to furl if you start from the bottom. With top-down furlers, the head is attached directly to the swivel, and the tack is secured to a free-rotating fitting on the drum. As the furling line is pulled, the tack lags behind, and the sail furls from the head to the tack, capturing the hard-to-furl top sections first.

SPINNAKER SOCKS

No matter how well the furling system works, it still has limits. Full-sized broad reaching and running spinnakers have mid-girths of as much as 100 percent and are very deep. Even with a top-down further, these spinnakers can be problematic to furl. As a rough guideline, if the mid-girth is over 88 to 90 percent of the foot length all bets are off − it might furl or it might not. A spinnaker sock is the better, more reliable option. In fact, it is also a good option for any full-sized asymmetrical spinnaker, even if you do have the ability to furl it. The cost-effectiveness of spinnaker socks is another plus for this option.

Your sail maker will work with you to determine if a nylon or composite material is right for you. For more traditional asymmetrical spinnaker sails such as the A3 and A2, nylon continues to be the best material, but it is not necessarily the best choice for the new generation of specialized reaching sails. In order to handle higher loads at closer apparent wind angles, a stronger material is needed. The best material choice is based on boat size, righting moment, and target apparent wind angle. In some cases, the best option could be as simple as a heavier nylon or polyester spinnaker cloth, but often a composite material with more strength and durability is the better choice. Quantum’s proprietary Fusion M™ tri-radial construction process is used to create the ultimate custom structure for membrane reaching sails. Quantum collaborated with industry leaders to develop a range of composite materials specifically for high-load reaching sail applications.

A boat’s design has a big impact on which downwind sail option is right for each sailor. For more traditional cruising boats with large foretriangles and overlapping headsails, reaching angles are well-served by a large genoa. An A2 or A3 rounds out your sail inventory to cover the broader angles. Conversely, modern boat designs tend toward small foretriangles with non-overlapping jibs. These smaller headsails lack the punch of their larger genoa cousins when it comes to reaching. AWA 40, 60, and 80 reaching sails fill this gap. Some other questions to ask when determining your boat’s best sail options: Is there a bow sprit? Is the boat a multihull? Where am I sailing? How fit and enthusiastic is my crew? Quantum’s experts can help you sort through these and other questions to make sure you get the perfect downwind sail for you and your goals.