Spinnakers are usually considered as a big baggy sail, who says?
A 'real' spinnaker needs a pole to strech out the fabric for maximum effect. (Or consider an offset cut without the pole and call it a Gennaker). Keep in mind that a real spinnaker pole also needs a down haul and up haul line and the cam cleats to lock them up and down. This is a tough act on a 'minimalist' vessel that simply has little room for all the extra gear.
(btw: fusioneng, how you got it all to work together is amazing. (Round of applause please!) Well done m8
Needless to say a 'standard' spinnaker just isn't practical for most unless you really intend to split the Atom.
However, if we define what a down wind sail really is is to offer the maximum amount of sailcloth to speed up the downwind process. In that regards.
1) A strong Golf Umbrella. It will work as long as you have a free hand to hang onto it. Dousing it is a piece of cake - just close it. In strong winds just use a personal sized well built umbrella. The wife may also appreciate the gentleman who holds up the umbrella for her in a rainstorm to prevent mascara loss...
2) Those trick twisty thingies that are used for all sorts of stuff like canopies, single lined kites and even this will work quite well:
http://www.bicsportkayaks.com/products/ ... l,908.htmlThere are other variations on this same theme most are built for downwind Kayak sailing (google it or check out Top Kayaker's website). The big bonus is these types of rigs are independent of the mast's furling ability. Some or most will require rigging of some kind though to attach them to the deck, maybe just a few pad eyes (inchworms).
3) Kites: Yah not the little bitty types that you may have flown as a kid. Kites come in all sorts of shapes and sizes from a small traction trainer kite 2 to 3.5 meters up to a Monster 20 Meter kite that can probaly launch you into sub orbit...it's the wind failure in space that can ruin your day.
4) What I've used for the last 10 years on anything from Inflatable kayaks to double sit insides:
http://www.spiritsails.com/products-page/?category=2 These sails are a very clever design made out of shock chord connected carbon fiber rods that require no rigging except a solidly mounted Scotty mount. These V shaped flat sails are designed to spill wind if over powered without intervention. (and yes they do work, I got a 12' Innova 'Sunny' inflatable up on a plane in 20 knot winds with 2 ppl and a 50 lb Springer Spaniel aboard).
Btw: The company was for sale 5 years ago. I almost bought it, yet at the time I couldn't get the facts on how many people would actually have bought the product and I let if pass. No worries, after all these years the product still works as advertised.
That is what I'm trying to mount right now on the rear Akas of my AI (if I can get a 1.5" RAM rail mount to connect with the Scotty Mount.
Any advice would be appreciated.
(Oh yah I forgot the oldest one still in existence....A bed sheet, 2 paddles, and some twine...now that would be Old School, and downright redonkulous)
Best Regards
Trinomite
(If there is a breeze up the butt, you're not downwind sailing, hehehe)