North Sails Expert Bob Meagher shares his thoughts on the latest technology available for cruising downwind- the Helix Furling Gennaker by North Sails. The following is an excerpt from the original article published by North Sails.

THE HELIX FURLING GENNAKER: YOUR NEW FAVORITE CRUISING SAIL

Expert Bob Meagher explains why you should update your Inventory

In the old days, you had two options for making it to your destination in time for cocktail hour: start the engine or go below to lug a bulky spinnaker up to the foredeck. Unless you’re on a long enough passage to justify all that work, the diesel will probably be your first choice.
Now a new gennaker gives you the best of both worlds. Regardless of whether you sail a monohull, multihull, or superyacht, I’m predicting it will become your new favorite cruising sail.

Benefits of the Helix Furling Gennaker

The Helix Furling Gennaker combines the power of an asymmetric spinnaker with the convenience of a Code Zero. Hoist it once and you have an easy-to-fly sail that will take you to that next harbor fast, even when your apparent wind angle is too far aft for your Code Zero reacher. Plus, this new gennaker is top-down furling, giving you a tight, neat furl that protects the sail.

How Does the Helix Furling Gennaker Compare to a Code Zero or Asymmetric Spinnaker?

The Helix Furling Gennaker is much deeper than a Code Zero. When the wind goes aft, release a little halyard or tackline and ease the sheet, and the luff will project out in front of a straight line between head and tack just like an asymmetric spinnaker. If the wind goes back forward again, just snug up the halyard or tack line to tighten the luff and reduce the sail’s depth.

Read the Full Article here.

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