Your rig is not likely in any danger. The potential problem is akin to what happens when someone atempts to deal with higher winds by sailing on just a genoa alone. Your center of effort shifts way forward, potentially creating weather helm. It is best to keep your sail plan balanced. Dead downwind this may not be a concern, at least in lighter air. We have sometimes just set the kite when the wind was light and dead aft just to get clean air into the sail, but if the wind picks up I'd rather sail a little higher and gybe downwind.

Sorry. Correct, lee helm. I've never flown the kite absent the main in anything over maybe 10-12 true, so dousing hasn't been a challenge - just ease the sheet and snuff.

I often sail with the 150% jib only and a few times with ASym spinnaker alone. I have to correct the lee helm with the rudder which slows the boat down a little. I mostly do this when I am single handed because I am to lazy to hoist the main with a reef and the jib.

After some practice I find it easy to launch the Asemmectrical spinnaker right out of the spinnaker bag just like it is done with a symmetrical spinnaker. When I take it down I stuff it down the forard hatch then later put it into the bag in a manner that it is ready for launching.

[QUOTE=deising;7432]Thanks, mogline. I suspect you meant 'lee helm' with the center of effort forward.

I didn't mention, but it bears remarking, that getting the chute to collapse in the sock was more difficult than usual without a main to blanket the wind pressure. It was blowing about 16 kts true with a 6 kt boat speed, so I had 10 kts worth of pressure in there. The spinnaker is small for the boat, so it doesn't tend to overpower too much.[/QUOTE]

My wife and I had that same problem recently. During our 9 day cruise, we had very light winds in the AM and a fairly short sail to our destination nearly dead downwind, so I thought it would be a great day to practice with just the asym. Sail went up fine and we cruised right along, not really noticing how the wind had built until we neared our destination and it was time to douse.

As we talked throught the dousing evolution, it occured to me that the winds were up and that we might have a problem but my wife wanted me to helm while she snuffed and dropped the asym. She wasn't able to budge the snuffer in the wind we had, and I hadn't raised the main, so I couldn't steer to blanket the aysm behind the main. I ended up starting the motor and going full bore dead down wind while quickly easing the sheet, which removed enough pressure for her to get the snuffer coming down.

It wasn't a huge problem, but I don't think there will be any more aysm only sailing for us.

Duane,

We use our a-sym quite a bit without the main. Usually in light air to get the boat moving. I have noticed that the sail will "roll" a bit to the center line of the boat when running down wind. A point of sail that you just can't get to with the main up. I haven’t noticed any issues, but then again it is normally in light air.

As for the douse and hoist, as a couple we cheat a little bit and use the autopilot in manual mode with the wireless remote. One of us will be on the foredeck and the other in the front of the cockpit with the sheets and halyard and still be able to position the boat where we need it. It has made it much easier for two to fly the a-sym. I realize that this is not an "old salt" tactic but an embrace of technology.

Not to get too far off topic...
The Raymarine Smart Controller works very well and is simple to install into the main computer. (literally about 10 minutes to install - this wireless remote unit is going with me when I sell the boat since it is plug an play with minimal install - 2 screws to secure the antannae and a wire run to the computer). Also serves as a nice repeater of all instruments via seatalk and has the same functions as the control head with auto tack, wind, magnetic functions, and alerts on "off course" / depth alarms.

If you are an auto pilot user as a solo or short handed sailor, this is a great addition since you do not need to go back to the wheel to adjust course at the control head. Just like with all autopilots, you need to keep an eye out.

Here is the link...
[url]http://www.raymarine.com/ProductDetail.aspx?SITE=1&SECTION=2&PAGE=1020&P...