Go Fly a Kite!

Recent years have seen a minor revolution in downwind sailing. We have witnessed not only the rebirth of the a symmetrical spinnaker (A-sail), better-designed and stronger-built symmetrical spinnakers (S-sails), but even more recently, the Parasailor2, a sail that might lead many long-distance cruisers to rethink their off-the-wind inventories.We tested these these

Author:
Craig Davis
Updated:
Aug 2, 2017
Original:
Aug 3, 2009

Recent years have seen a minor revolution in downwind sailing. We have witnessed not only the rebirth of the a symmetrical spinnaker (A-sail), better-designed and stronger-built symmetrical spinnakers (S-sails), but even more recently, the Parasailor2, a sail that might lead many long-distance cruisers to rethink their off-the-wind inventories.

We tested these these three types of sails last summer in a wide variety of conditions. There was one now-infamous day when we flew the Parasailor2 in 30+ knots of air, but for consistent, reliable results we flew each sail on a perfect late-August day off Marblehead, Massachusetts, in winds ranging from 5.7 to 12 knots true, sailing courses of equal length. We used a North Sails A-sail and an S-sail from Piranha Sails.

Related

It’s been blowing 30 knots for the last four hours, and I’m glued to the helm. I have a touch too much canvas up, it’s dark, but I’m ripping down waves and closing in on the finish line. Alaska is about 100 nautical miles away, and I’ve put about 650 miles behind me since I left ...read more

R2AK-1.00_00_32_00.Still008

This summer, SAIL's Technical Editor Adam Cove took on the Race to Alaska—a 750-mile slog from Port Townsend, Washington, to Ketchikan, Alaska—alone in an 18-foot catboat. He documented the trip, from refitting the boat, adding oars, provisioning, and towing it across the ...read more

STS10_SailProof_Touchscreen_06

Electronics and Navigation

Dissatisfied with the results in their own sailing experience of trying to find an easy, more affordable way to route plan and navigate, the founders of SailProof in 2020 introduced the rugged, waterproof SP08 tablet. Their goal was to provide sailors who use a PC for route ...read more

2024-Book-Collection

Bosun’s Bag: A Treasury of Practical Wisdom for the Traditional Boater By Tom Cunliffe Artwork by Martyn MackrillAdlard Coles, $35 Wit, wisdom, history, seamanship, hands-on skills, and the evocative artwork of Martyn Mackrill—all are contained within this eminently readable new ...read more

4.1

Sponsored Story

A new adventure begins for Nanni thanks to a partnership with the famous SV Delos, whose YouTube channel is followed by thousands of sailing enthusiasts around the world. The family of sailors, known for sharing their maritime adventures, cultural discoveries and moments of life ...read more

00-LEAD-SailinghisHeresshoffFishClass

There is a certain allure to sailing a boat designed for the solitary purpose of sailing well; the way the quarter wake licks along the toerail towards the transom, or the lightness of the helm as balance in motion, like a vintage sports car perfectly tuned. The Luders 27 (L-27) ...read more

W woman is smiling at the camera as she steps from the forward area of a sailboat into the main cabin, which is lined with wood and has lots of light coming through the windows.

“The worst part about buying a boat is that the search is over!” Isbjørn’s skipper and one of my business partners, August Sandberg, had that to say when he and I recently recorded a Quarterdeck podcast on boat shopping. This is where August and I differ; of the five boats I’ve ...read more

A woman in a visor sits on a boat with a reading tablet on her knee.

Editor’s Note: Cruising sailors well know the joys of pulling into a marina or gathering space that dedicates a shelf or three to the nautical version of the lending library—even if that’s just a pile of books next to the laundry machines. It’s like beachcombing or treasure ...read more

CLOSE

CLOSE

CLOSE

CLOSE