Hood Cruising Chute

The Hood Cruising Chute delivers spinnaker-type performance without the trauma. It has been developed over several years to give the cruising sailor  extra performance and, in light conditions, close reaching, due to it’s asymmetric cut. 

Now you can forget about the cost and complication of spinnaker poles and specialised equipment - all that’s required is a halyard, a sheet and an adjustable tack line. 

The Hood Cruising Chute has an LP of 165% of J and is considerably larger than a full size Genoa, but not as big as a conventional spinnaker. To improve handling and alleviate some of the control problems associated with Spinnakers the Hood Cruising Chute has a narrower, flatter head which also lowers the centre of power. It’s asymmetric, tri-radial design exploits the strong warp characteristics of nylon to control shape and minimise distortion. 

Constructed in spinnaker nylon, colour combinations can be made to individual choice subject, of course, to panel layout. An approximate guide to cloth weights is: 

up to 27 ft - 0.75 oz
27 to 60 ft - 1.5 oz
over 60 ft - 2.2 oz 

The Hood Cruising Chute couldn’t be easier to set. Attach the tack strop to the stem and lead the single sheet to a block on the quarter; simply head off the wind and hoist the Hood Cruising Chute in the shadow of the mainsail. For broad reaching and running the tack is eased up from the stem. For close reaching it should be hardened down to create a more Genoa-like sail. These adjustments can be made manually at the bow, but it is much easier to have a block at the tack and lead the line aft to the cockpit. 

To drop the Hood Cruising Chute, bear off onto a broad reach and collapse the sail in the lee of the mainsail. Let the tack go and lower the halyard. 

Even gybing is simple - ease the sheet so the sail streams in front of the bow, walk the sheet round the forestay and aft to the opposite quarter. 

Finally, for even easier handling, the Hood Cruising Chute can be combined with the Hood squeezer. A sock & fibreglass bell that simply squeezes the Hood Cruising Chute inside ready for use next time. 

Hood Hood Cruising Chute - the true cruising sail for ease of handling and extra performance.  

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