Cruisers and casual racers often ask me the same thing: "How hard is it to use downwind sails, and what gear do I really need?" The good news is, with modern downwind sails and the right setup, it's actually pretty easy for a crew of two! We have two great options for you: the Cruising Asymmetrical sail (which uses a furler or a sock for easy dousing) or our versatile Code C.
Our Ready-Made Asymmetrical Spinnaker (Gennaker/All Purpose Spinnaker)
This sail is designed to be easy to fly and super versatile, working well in wind angles from 85 to 160 degrees. Pair it with a spinnaker sock, and two people can easily set, jibe, and douse it. They fit nearly all modern yachts from 20–65 feet because we pre-fabricate them in standard sizes.
How do we offer such great quality at a lower price than a custom sail? We take advantage of:
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Using our large sail-loft capacity during the off-season.
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Ordering huge amounts of sail cloth for better pricing.
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Standardizing the designs to speed up our production process.
Simply pick your size and color (star design or solid), and you'll get a high-quality sail quickly and save money compared to a custom one.
Meet the Code C Sail
The Code C was specifically developed by Rolly Tasker Sails for cruising sailors—that's what the "C" stands for! It's all about maximum ease of handling and drive, without worrying about racing rules. Think of it as a super-light reaching Genoa mixed with an asymmetric spinnaker—it's that versatile! It can be flown on all reaching courses (65 to 135 degrees off the wind) and you can even pole it out like a Genoa when running dead downwind. It performs best in light to medium winds.
FITTING A SHORT BOWSPRIT
To get the best performance, you'll need to set the Code C on a specially made furler (we can supply this) with a continuous line. The sail must be set in front of and clear of the forestay (and ideally the pulpit, too).
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If your forestay is set slightly inside the bow: You're good to go!
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If you have a short bow platform: Just check that the platform is strong enough to handle the loads of the Code C.
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If your forestay is attached right at the bow: You'll need a short bowsprit. This can be a moveable pole (found at most chandleries) or an easily made fixed pole. While fitting a bowsprit might seem complicated, it's often easier than you think. Remember: the Code C needs to be set at least 40 or 50 centimeters out in front of the forestay.
Using a Furler
The Code C was designed for a free flying Code 0 Furler. It can be shipped with an Anti-Torsion Cable built into the sail or you can use a cable that ships with the furler. A furler makes deploying, jibing and storing the sail easy. Just minimize pressure in the sail by bearing off to keep the sail in the lee of the mainsail. To Jibe, just roll up the sail, and then unroll it on the new tack.
Barber Hauler
The Code C is designed to be very easy and simple to trim. The luff should be set up tight.
On some courses (especially closer reaches), you may need to add more tension on the leech to give it more power and stop the top part from flapping. The best solution is an easily rigged Barber Hauler:
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Clip a snatch block onto the sheet.
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Attach a line from the snatch block that runs through another block on the foot railing or on deck.
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Tighten this line until the sail shows its best shape again.