Whether you’re a racer or a cruiser, it comes back to that question from the sailmaker: What do you want to do with this sail? In an ideal world, we’d sell every boat two code zeros−one for upwind and one for reaching, but we know most boats can only carry one. A higher clew with the sail sheeted to the back of the boat is a reaching code zero and can be used in slightly higher breeze. In light air up to eight knots, a code zero designed with a longer leech and lower clew can be sheeted inboard and used at a higher angle. The whole range of sizing between a Genoa and a 75-percent girth code zero is just opening up as racing rules are now beginning to address and rate this range in the middle. As soon as you crack off even 5 degrees from the range of the jib, you could be into code zero territory. While it does depend on the wind speed, especially for boats without a 155-percent genoa, there’s a lot of range between the jib and the first true spinnaker. If you’re going downwind, you’ll use either a symmetrical or asymmetrical spinnaker. A code zero is strictly a downwind sail.Ī code zero is often classified as a spinnaker in terms of racing, hence the restriction on the length of the mid-girth, but it’s not a true downwind sail. Take a look at the AWA 40, AWA 60, and AWA 80 downwind reaching sails.ĥ. We’ve renamed our reaching code sails based on the potential apparent wind angle and optimum wind range of each sail, making it even easier to pinpoint the best one for you. The most important question to ask yourself as a boat owner is “What do I want to do with this sail?” Are you a racer or a cruiser? Do you want to use it to sail in very light air to sail relatively close to the wind, or will you use it on a broader reach? The answers to those questions will help your sailmaker determine the design of the sail that’s right for you. There are no rules or restrictions for cruisers! Quantum’s racing code zeros and some cruising code zeros are made with specially developed composites for higher load applications (bigger boats and more close-winded capable sails), while sails for smaller boats and broader angles can be made with heavy nylon. While the code zero for racing monohulls is often restricted by rule to a mid-girth of at least 75 percent of the foot length and a leech that is no more than 95 percent of luff length, code zeros for cruising boats and multihulls can be significantly larger and have a lot more variety in their design, from very deep to very flat. ![]() Quantum has even created a whole new line of reaching and running downwind sails geared towards cruisers to help make the decision clear and simple when considering adding a specialty sail to your inventory.Ī code zero is a code zero is a code zero, right? Not so. We find that once introduced to the code zero, cruisers will use this sail more than any other on the boat. ![]() True downwind spinnakers can be unruly and intimidating for a shorthanded or novice crew, but the range and furling ability of the code zero make it a fantastic sail for a weekend outing. A code zero is strictly a racing sail.Ĭruisers of all ilks have taken to the sail for its range and ease of use. A screecher is larger, higher clewed, and fuller than a genoa but flatter than a typical code zero.ģ. Catamarans and trimarans have notoriously small jibs, making them grossly underpowered in light breeze. A screecher is specifically a multihull term for a very large, very flat sail for going upwind or just cracked off. A screecher and a code zero are the same thing. Gennaker is just a general term for a potential downwind sail, a cross between a Genoa and an asymmetrical spinnaker. The term gennaker can cover a code zero, screecher, or reaching spinnaker. Code zero is another name for a gennaker. We sat down with Quantum’s VP of Product Integration and sail designer Doug Stewart to educate us on the code zero.ġ. There are a lot of things we think we know about a code zero, many of which aren’t true, or, at least, not always true. Some are built of nylon, while others use heavier, stronger composite materials. Code zeros have characteristics of an upwind sail but are classified as a downwind sail. They are often referred to as a gennaker or a code sail. It was born in the Volvo Ocean Race, back when it was still called the Whitbread-Around-the-World Race. ![]() The code zero has only been around for about 25 years. Read on as we clear up some of the most common myths and misunderstandings about code zeros. ![]() There are many misconceptions about these downwind reaching sails, so it's time to get familiar and comfortable with them – code zeros might just be the perfect addition to your downwind sail inventory. What exactly is a code zero? Code zeros are only used on racing boats, right? Aren't they pretty expensive and difficult to get up and down? If you've pondered any of these questions, you are not alone.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |