Pole Back Your Asymmetric Spinnaker

Offshore, Sail Trim

Pole Back Your Asymmetric Spinnaker

November 5, 2024
By Ryan Walker

If you're racing offshore with an asymmetric spinnaker, you might be missing out on a key technique that can enhance both your performance and safety: poling back your asymmetric. This simple adjustment allows you to extend the sail's range, increasing your ability to handle a wider variety of wind angles—an essential skill when conditions are shifting.

The Safety Margin and Versatility for Offshore Sailing

When sailing offshore, the conditions can change rapidly, with shifting winds and varying wave heights. One of the most significant advantages of poling back your asymmetric spinnaker is that it allows you to adjust the boat’s power profile without needing to change sails. This makes it easier to respond to shifts in the wind and maintain a more consistent boat speed while reducing the risk of over-pressuring the boat. If you’re short handed sailing, this becomes even more important.

The ability to sail at a wider range of wind angles, from 90° TWA to 150° TWA, means you’re not limited to a narrow window for effective downwind sailing. Offshore, where conserving energy and maintaining control are critical, being able to easily shift your sail plan within the asymmetric range reduces the need for frequent sail changes. This is particularly useful for short-handed crews who may not have the time or energy to constantly change downwind sails.

Furthermore, poling back your asymmetric provides a more stable, balanced downwind sail plan, allowing the boat to maintain better control in fluctuating wind conditions. This stability can help the boat feel safer and more responsive when conditions become less predictable, which is key when racing offshore.

If your boat has both an asymmetric spinnaker and a symmetrical spinnaker setup, consider “poling back” your asymmetric. This relatively simple adjustment can significantly enhance your downwind performance, especially on offshore passages, without requiring major modifications to your boat.

Why Should You Do It?
Asymmetric spinnakers are an excellent choice for offshore racing, offering a broader wind range, better stability, and less strain on the boat compared to symmetrical spinnakers. Unlike symmetrical spinnakers, asymmetrics allow your rig to “breathe” and keep the boat more balanced, particularly in gusty conditions.

When offshore, your goal is often to sail conservatively and stay within a safe operating window. By poled-back asymmetrics, you can extend your effective wind range and sail at a wider variety of angles. This flexibility is crucial, especially in longer races where you might face shifting winds and changing conditions.

An added benefit of using a poled-back asymmetric is the increased safety margin. By improving your ability to sail at a wider range of True Wind Angles (TWA), you can better respond to changes in wind direction and strength. This reduces the likelihood of over-pressuring the boat, allowing you to maintain control even in gusty or unstable wind conditions.

How to Set Up?

To get started, follow these key steps to ensure your asymmetric works effectively when poled back:

1. Check Your Setup

Before heading out on the water, verify your setup in the marina:

A 2:1 purchase on your tack line is ideal since you’ll be adjusting it frequently.
Unclip the regular pole downhaul, as it’s not needed when poling back. Keep things simple. The tack line will serve as your downhaul.
Ensure your pole topper is securely connected.
You’ll also need to use your regular brace lines to control the pole’s angle.
- If your boat is smaller and doesn’t have brace lines, consider adding them.
- Ensure the tack of your asymmetric spinnaker can handle both the tack line and the brace line.
If you have a fixed ring for attaching the pole to your mast, you may need to add another one to get better positioning.
Make sure your pole base track allows the pole to drop low enough so that it stays just above the pulpit and remains horizontal.

2. Training and Practice

Ideally, you’ll want to practice this technique on a day with 8-12 knots of breeze to get a good feel for the process. Start by hoisting your asymmetric spinnaker as you normally would, either from the bow or a fixed bowsprit.

As you begin to sail deeper, ease the tack line to let the sail rise. Once the sail starts filling, you can begin to pole it back.

Positioning the Pole: Bring the pole into position and adjust the brace line. As you ease the tack line, your pole should begin to move back. The tack line now acts as your downhaul.
Angle of Attack: As you ease the tack line, allow the tack to rise higher, and let it float. The pole should now be extended back. Depending on the conditions, you’ll find that a 140° TWA is very comfortable for your boat.

3. Maintaining the Pole and Sail Setup

Be cautious not to over-pole the sail. You don’t want to push the pole hard against your forestay as this could damage the pole or cause instability in the rig. Instead, let the tack float higher as the sail fills, and use the brace to bring the pole out more to increase your projected sail area.

If you plan on poled back from the beginning, you can adjust the brace to push the pole back further, just like you would with a regular symmetrical spinnaker setup.

Gybing with an Assymetric on a Pole

When it comes time to gybe, there are a few key things to keep in mind to ensure a smooth and efficient maneuver:

Prepare the Bow Team: Give your bow team ample time to remove the pole. To do this, ease the brace line until the pole is resting gently against the forestay. Then, take up on the tack line. This will allow the pole to come off and prepare for a clean gybe.
Sharpness and Speed: Sharpen the course slightly as needed to keep the spinnaker drawing with just the tack line.
Remove the Pole: Once you’ve completed the gybe, you can either remove the pole from the base or slide it up the mast track. At this point, you’re sailing without the pole until you set it up on the new gybe.

After the gybe, clean up and reset the pole for the new tack. This will allow you to continue using the poled-back technique on the opposite side.

Food For Thought...

Using a pole with your asymmetric spinnaker isn’t just about maximizing performance—it’s also about increasing safety and versatility, particularly in offshore racing. With this technique, you can extend the effective range of your asymmetric spinnaker and keep your boat balanced and controlled. By following the steps outlined here and practicing regularly, you’ll be able to improve your downwind performance while maintaining a higher safety margin.

Whether you’re racing offshore or cruising longer passages, poling back your asymmetric is a valuable skill that can help you sail smarter, safer, and faster.