Asym. Sleeve

[C. Timmons]

I recently purchased a boat with an Asym. Spinnaker. I am considering purchasing a sleeve to simplify its use. Any recommendation on which product may be better than the other. Prices vary from 180 (Chutescoop) to 400 (Hood Squeezer) with the ATN sleeve right up there too. I have not seen any comparison on the products. Any help would be appreciated.

[Peter Milne]

We recently purchased an asym spinacker and the sailmaker recommended ATN over his own brand arguing it was the best on the market.On the first day we snaped the fibreglass hoop in two. Within 24 hours ATN send us a replacement at no cost. Nothing but great things to say since.Peter Milne S/V Blue Heron

[Vic]

Cruising Direct sold me the "just right" one for their cruising genaker ... after using another one on someone else's boat I realized the one they sold me was 2-3 feet shorter than it should have been.I have a feeling that it is better to be a couple of feet longer than shorter.Vic

[Scott Narum]

I've got an ATN for my Hunter 326 with an Banks Sails cruising spinnaker. It works well, and it appears ATN has gone to molded plastic for the "funnel", and done away with fiberglass. This seems like a good move, since plastic is tougher and more slippery. I sail mine single handed, so you can see the sock is a huge help.

[Craig]

I have used Chutescoop, and had good luck with it. It was inexpensive and very functional on my Catalina 22. I now have a new ATN with my spinnaker on my O'Day 25 and love it. It is more expensive, but the quality is excellent, and the sail douses easily.

[Don Guillette]

Mates: I'm getting ready for the Catalina 30 National Regatta, which will be held in Long Beach, Ca in a couple of weeks.Here's a little of what I have been thinking about as it pertains to my position of mainsheet / traveler trimmer. This is the 3rd National event I've participated in and the best we have been able to do is 2nd, which isn't all that bad but a 1st would make my day. Anyway, racing is no different than cruising to me. I agree you have to pay a little more attention to what your doing. While cruising, you may think you can "set it and forget it" and a lot of guys do, but what do you do when the wind speed increases or decreases, the wind direction changes or the seas get lumpy? Whether you are a racer or cruiser, you have to make a sail trim change. A cruiser may not want to make the sail trim change but it would be nice if he at least knew what change to make because one day there will come a situation where he has no choice and he better know what he is doing. We've all been in these situations, so you know what I'm talking about. One of those situations happened to me early in sailing and it scared the devil out of me.Hopefully, most sailors have an understanding of draft depth, draft position, twist or angle of attack. I call these items the "4 Elements Of sail Trim" and they are the only things you are adjusting with your mainsail and jib sail trim controls. You have to have an understanding of how your sail trim controls effect the "4 Elements Of Sail Trim". Without this knowledge, you are easing and trimming the controls in a chaotic manner and sometimes the adjustment you make can work against each other and negate the effect you are trying to achieve. Assume your sailing along (racing or cruising) and you encounter a small puff or lull or the seas change slightly. What do you do? Actually, not much. Just adjust your mainsheet, jib sheet and traveler. Now assume you encounter a persistent puff and larger seas. What do you adjust now? Simple, in addition to adjusting the mainsheet, jib sheets and traveler, you also adjust your fairleads, jib Cunningham (if you have one, jib halyard if you don't), outhaul, Cunningham and boom vang. The $64 question is when and which way do you adjust the controls and by how much? Without an understanding of what draft depth, draft position, twist and angle of attack involve plus an understanding how each of the sail trim controls for the main and jib interact with the "4 Element Of Sail Trim", sail trim will always be a mystery to you. If you were trying to take the mystery out of sail trim wouldn't you want your questions answered in plain, simple English? Take a look at my book "The Sail Trim Users Guide" plus my "Sail Trim Chart", which is sold on this web site. It will take the guess work out of you mainsail and jib adjustment.