asymmetric spinnaker design

[tjl]

I am curious as to whether there is much difference between asymmetric spinnakers designed for yachts versus designed for skiffs?

[Omatako]

Yachts use gennakers, skiffs use code zeros. Both are assymetrical but they are vastly different.

[overbored]

No, they are all the same but they make the sail for the particular boat and can cut the asymmtricals for many different angles of sail. if it is a one design class boat then the class rules dictate the size and shape of sail used. odd numbers are for reaching sails and even numbers are for downwind sailing. a Code 0 sail is a close reaching light wind, very big sail with a rope luff that is run up tight like a jib but does not have hanks or a luff rope in a headsail foil. code 0 is attached to the end of a bow sprit that has a Bob stay to support the very high luff tension. a Gennaker is a large light wind sail that is run up like a code 0 but used mostly by crusers with no bow sprit.

[pdqaltair]

It should be obvious, just looking at the pictures:

a. Skiff sails are cut to provide lift, to help the boat jump up on plane. This is obvious in the head.
b. Performance multihull sails are cut flatter to minimize heeling force. They are designed for shallow apparent wind angles. (cruising multihulls aren't much different from cruising monohulls).
c. Cruising sails are generally cut more full, so that they can work deeper wind angles and so that the sail will pull around to windward just a bit when used deep.

Additionally, materials can differ. the flatter multihull chutes are generally built of a more stretch resistant and stiffer cloth.

Sure, these are general rules, but to my eye, a skiff chute and a cruisers chute are nothing alike.