In addition, traditional nylon spinnaker materials were too elastic to allow the sail to remain ﬂat, and it was necessary to use composites with high-modulus fibers. The sail challenged the strength of the entire rig. Not only did the sail work like a genoa, but the loads were genoa-like as well.

Racing Code Zeros built to this limitation might get a little inside 90 degrees true wind angle, but not any closer. To prevent an “arms race” they imposed a minimum 75 percent girth restriction.

Subsequent treatment of these sails by various handicap rules made the problem even more difficult. While unable to attain true close-hauled angles except in the lightest conditions, the sails were still a vast improvement over a fractional jib in the same conditions. Could a sail this big be made flat enough to sail at very close angles and still fly? The first sails flapped at the back end and tended to carry large amounts of curl in the luff, but gradually the shapes were refined. The wider and larger a sail, the more overall camber it needs or it just flaps. The fundamental dilemma was that shaping was needed to support this extra area. By comparison, a genoa has a mid-girth of 50 percent. The original Whitbread rule required that the “mid-girth” be no less than 70 percent of the foot length. Asymmetrics function well at relatively high angles, but could they be pushed further? The problem was (and is) girth. So, naturally, creative minds wondered if it was possible to make an asymmetric spinnaker that could sail upwind, or at least nearly upwind. Whitbread rules didn’t allow masthead genoas but permitted masthead asymmetric spinnakers. Thus, Code Zero was the perfect name for a sail that could sail at closer angles than any spinnaker in the inventory. Codes 2, 3, and 4 were used at progressively broader angles. Although every team had their own version by the end of the race, Paul Cayard and the winning EF Language team ﬁrst realized the sail’s potential and got the lion’s share of the credit for its development.įor most syndicates the spinnaker designed for the tightest wind angles was designated as the Code 1 Reacher. For racersĭuring the 1998-99 Whitbread Race, the term Code Zero was coined to deﬁne what was basically an upwind asymmetric spinnaker, its shape and geometry born from the limitations imposed by the class rule. What makes the Code Zero more useful are advances in furling technology, which can make them easier to handle, and the addition of bow sprits of various lengths that help create more space for the sail. Genoa-powered boats don’t get as much benefit since they already have a good sized reaching option. These usually are fractionally rigged but have spinnaker halyards that are well above the forestay or even masthead. Ease that non-overlapping jib out on a reach, and there is just not that much sail there to power the boat up. These sails are particularly useful on modern racing and cruising boats which now feature non-overlapping jibs as primary headsails. Often referred to as the “Code Zero,” it is essentially an asymmetric spinnaker designed to act like a large, loose-luffed reaching genoa. Fortunately the last 25 years have witnessed the development of specialty light to moderate reaching sails that are just the ticket. We search for anything that can get us going. Quantum's Dave Flynn dives in to discuss the merits behind this extremely useful and practical sail that should be a part your sail plan.Īs we settle into the dog days of summer here on the Chesapeake Bay, wind is an ingredient often in short supply. Furling technology has come a long way and makes handling this sail a breeze. Code zeros are simple, versatile, and effective on many common points of sail for the cruiser. The number of panels varies according to the size of your sail and the colours in your computer layout may may differ slightly from the 'real life' spinnaker colours.Code zeros have a permanent spot in the sailing inventory of foiling IMOCA's competing in the Vendee Globe and the VOR65's circumnavigating the Earth, but they're making routine appearances in your local waters on cruising boats too. Simply select boat size, sail purpose and sail type and you are all set to colour your own symmetric or assymetric downwind sail! Once you are done and happy with the result save it by sending the layout by e-mail or request a quote.

Please note that you are not able to colour this sail – contact your local Elvstrøm Sails dealer for more info on this sail.Įver tried designing your own spinnaker or gennaker? Well, here's your chance! In downwind mode the sail can be used at angles from TWA 140-180° and in reaching mode in TWA 60-135°. The sail is a 3-in-1 solution, working not only as a twin furling downwind-runner, but also as an ultra-light genoa and a reacher. The Blue Water Runner is a twin furling downwind sail, which is easy to furl away from the safety of the cockpit.

Rigging a code zero sail