Experience with
Asymmetrical Spinnakers on E-Scows
by
Richard Beers, DLYC
We are using Asymmetrical
spinnakers, and after spending a year in both light air and 28-knot winds,
I can say this is the most stable platform for downwind sailing on an E
Scow. I have been sailing E's since 1984 and though I am not an expert, I
love the way it handles off the wind. Of course we are all the same going
up wind. Once you have sailed this asymmetrical arrangement you will see
how much of a difference it makes in improving teamwork, stability and
performance.
Delavan’s First Year Experience
There
are 8 E scows on Delavan and 6 have Asymmetrical rigs. We have varying
amounts of expertise, but the results show that only one Symmetrical has
any speed, and that is with three gentlemen who have sailed with each
other over a 20-year period, and who have great competency. They are in
second place. The next boat with a symmetrical is in 6th place.
The
fleet is more competitive and we finish closer together. This has added
more fun and interest to the races. There are more competitive finishes in
both light and heavy air. As the human performance variation due to pole
jibing is eliminated, it is much easier to concentrate on strategy and
placement (especially in high winds) for both skipper and crew.
Sailing Off the Wind
This
rig is very easy to learn, and very forgiving compared to the symmetrical
arrangement. The pole is extended while bearing off and the jib man first
hoists the halyard, then immediately hoists the tack line. From there on
in the middle man and the skipper control the air in the kite.
In
light air the advantage is not as obvious to me, but others may disagree.
In heavy air the jibes are easier than jibing a C Scow, and the jib man
doesn't have to climb around, or reach up out of the cockpit. When jibing
I notice how much more quickly you can get the boat back up to speed
compared to the symmetrical. I can jibe faster and get settled more
quickly than my counterparts in the symmetrical rig.
The
speed in heavy air is exhilarating with incredible stability. Now I know
why the A scows have all gone to this arrangement. When you get wind in
the chute, the bow heads down dramatically so you must trim the main to
stop heading down or if you want to head up. From this asymmetrical design
I have learned how to steer the boat much more effectively with the sails
than with the rudder. Likewise, if you want to head up, the middle man
must ease the chute some, as the moment is much further forward on this
boat arrangement.
The
conversion is very simple and costs about the same as purchasing a runner
and a reacher. I have only one chute for both light weather and heavy
weather. Choices for poles include aluminum pole or carbon fiber. All
Delavan Asymmetricals have carbon fiber.
Drawbacks
I
have only learned of two drawbacks, both familiar to A Scows, though only
one remains. First it is important that you pack the chute in the bag so
that the sheets are inside the chute when the light sail goes up.
Otherwise you have the sheets going around the outside and to leeward of
the kite, which takes up more rope and reduces your control. This is
similar to packing the chute on a symmetrical so there is no twist in it.
By the way, we have yet to put a twist in the chute that couldn’t be fixed
by trimming the sheet.
Second is visibility to leeward. This was an initial concern, but the
kites are cut high to the clue allowing more visibility from the crew and
skipper positions both in light and heavy air. This makes it easier to
see to leeward, compared to the low footed A spinnaker. Recently I crewed
on Lon Schoor's A scow, Matinee, that has an asymmetrical
spinnaker. In that rig the crew must be horizontal to the water hanging
out to see to leeward. On the E Scow we no longer have visibility
concerns. One E did skewer a Flying Scot at the leeward mark in the second
race of the season. That is the only accident the fleet suffered this
year.
Very
Strong Wind Experience
Ten
days ago I went out with 4 people in a blow that was at least a steady 28
knots. We covered 4.5 miles in 12 minutes with 4 jibes. Two motorboats
clocked us at one point going 30 mph. During this time I was often heading
up for more speed and pressure. Our jibes were effortless, one reason
because our crew remained in the boat and low. The chute was very stable,
as it is attached to both the mast and the bow. As the wind hit the boat,
the bow appeared to head away from the wind and lift up, making it easier
to navigate in large waves. This is different compared to a symmetrical
rig in which you are smart to follow the chute, as it often swings back
and forth. Death rolling was not a concern at all. In fact, we had a
windward roll during a jibe that we quickly readjusted and regained
pressure came back as we headed up and the chute filled. This must be
because the luff of the chute is stabilized between the deck and the mast.
This
asymmetrical rig would most likely have made a significant difference for
the 14 boats that turned over in the last race at the Torch Lake E
Nationals last year. I know, for I dumped mine the last time down wind in
that race. We got a puff, the bow got buried in a wave and spun up in the
wind all in short order, so over we went before we were able to react. If
you were not there, 4 of the five races were sailed in 20+ mph, with
Martin Ford saying that no races would begin if wind was steady above 22
mph. Wind was due south and waves built up for 5 miles on that lake. Great
regatta, even if I didn't do well!
As
you can tell I am a proponent of the asymmetrical design, although I was a
very reluctant participant last fall when we made the decision to allow
both designs in the Delavan fleet.
History of Evolution
This
design is a natural evolution of the E Scow. At Delavan we started sailing
scows as a club in 1892. In those days we had only A type scows. Then in
1929 the E scow was developed in part because of a savings in cost and a
reduced number of crew required to sail successfully.
Since
then we have seen several operational improvements, and many adopted after
much debate:
1.
Marconi rig from Gaff rig
2. Dacron sails from cotton sails
3. Reacher design that looked like a trysail to a balloon shape (1950's)
4. Aluminum mast from wood masts
5. Wood hull to Fiberglass hull
6. Humans as vangs to mechanical vangs
In
retrospect, these improvements do not appear to be worth removing from the
boat and returning to the “simpler time”.
I
trust this gives you one person’s perspective on the asymmetrical design
for the E scow. |
