Gradient Series
Spinnaker Coding Chart
© North SailsThe North Sails "coding" system is designed to make categorizing and describing downwind sails faster and more clear. The "North Code" system describes symmetric and asymmetric spinnakers according to their purpose and wind range rather than by cloth weight. Even-numbered codes are running sails,
odd-numbered codes are closer angle sails. The higher the code, the higher the wind range for the sail. An "S" signifies a symmetric spinnaker. An "A" signifies an
asymmetric.
Asymmetric:
CODE 1A
Asym. VMG
55º -85º AWA
CODE 2A
Asym.Light Runner
115º -165ºAWA
CODE 3A
Asym. Reacher
80º -120º AWA
North Spinnaker Coding Chart© North Sails
CODE 4A
Asym. Heavy Runner
115º-165º AWA
CODE 5A
Asym. Heavy Reacher
80º-120º AWA
Symmetric:
CODE 1S
Light VMG Runner
55º-110º AWA
CODE 2S
Medium Runner
110º-180º AWA
CODE 3S
Med. All-Purpose
Reacher
75º-110º AWA
CODE 4S
Heavy Runner
110º-180º AWA
CODE 5S
Storm Spinnaker
Downwind Profiles:
Sprit-rigged Racer / Cruiser: 2A, 3A
Sportboat (one-design): 2A, 3A, 1A
Sportboat (handicap): 3A, 2A, 1A
Offshore Racer: 2S, 3S, 4S
Grand Prix One-Design: 1S, 2S, 3S, 4S
IMS/IRC Racer: 1S, 2S, 3S, 4S
Abreviations used in the graph:
AWA = apparent wind angle
AWS = apparent wind speed
VMG = velocity made good (speed made good against or with the wind)
Runner = Spinnaker to run as much downwind as possible.