drifter vs asymetrical spin

mrkeith · #1 (**permalink**) 02-16-2007

hi, whats the difference between a drifter and an asymetrical spinnaker? can one be used like the other and vice a verse?

trantor12020 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-16-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrkeith

hi, whats the difference between a drifter and an asymetrical spinnaker? can one be used like the other and vice a verse?

I thought they're same, just that different sail loft calls it by different names like, UK Sail call it Flasher, ...

Faster · #3 (**permalink**) 02-16-2007

We once had a drifter that was an oversized genoa, fully hanked on but made of ripstop nylon like a spinnaker.
These have pretty much disappeared with the advent of the asymmetrical Cruising spinnaker, called various names such as flashers, etc by different manufacturers. These in turn have evolved into the powerful A sails used on the J sprit boats, AC boats, other sportboats and ocean racers.

resdog · #4 (**permalink**) 02-16-2007

The drifter I had was made of very lightweight nylon and was hanked on. An asymetrical is not hanked on and has a different cut. I always considered my drifter as a huge lightweight genoa.

mrkeith · #5 (**permalink**) 03-15-2007

is it worth having both an assymetrical spin and a drifter? or no need. i have an assym ...do i need a drifter?

Giulietta · #6 (**permalink**) 03-15-2007

Depends on what you want to do...if you're cruising....cruising fast on a schedule....racing...

Here is a good show of a drifter

Its just a good light genoa, "almost" a gennaker on the stay track. good for light downwind sail in light winds..

Sailormann · #7 (**permalink**) 03-15-2007

An Assym. spinnaker is legal to race with, a drifter is usually not. Do you need one ? No - but if you sail downwind a lot in light air it would be one of a few sails to consider.... It's not going to do a lot that your spinnaker can't do though.

blt2ski · #8 (**permalink**) 03-15-2007

You may want to do as I am thinking of, get a 150'ish reacher over a drifter to go with the asymetric. This is more of an upwind sail for light winds. Built like a genoa, but with 2'ish oz nylon cloth. Then as the article Gui showed, you use the 110-130 for heavier winds.

Marty

roosaw · #9 (**permalink**) 03-17-2007

A drifter is hanked on and an asymmetric is set flying. Drifters will generally be bigger and point higher than an asymmetric. A drifter is certainly much easier to use when roller furled on.
My opinion on why the asymmetric has gained popularity is the most boats don't have an extra forstay they can devote to it so they go with a sail set flying to simplify things.