Spinnaker Coding

The 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.  

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ASYMMETRIC:

CODE 1A:
Light Reach/
VMG Run
70-120 AWA

CODE 2A:

Light Runner
110-150 AWA

CODE 3A:

Medium Reacher
70-120 AWA

CODE 4A:

Medium Runner
110-150 AWA

CODE 5A:

Heavy Reacher
95-130 AWA
SYMMETRIC:

CODE 1S:
Light Reach/
VMG Runner
65-95 AWA

CODE 2S:

Light/Medium Runner
120-150 AWA

CODE 3S:

Medium Reacher
75-130 AWA

CODE 4S:

Deep Running
130-180 AWA

CODE 5S:

Storm Spinnaker
DOWNWIND PROFILES:

PHRF Racer: 2S, 3S


Sprit-rigged Racer / Cruiser:
2A, 3A

Sportboat (one-design):
2A, 3A, 1A

Sportboat (handicap):
3A, 2A, 1A

Offshore Racer:
2S, 4S

Grand Prix One-Design:
1S, 2S, 3S, 4S

IRC/ORR Racer:
1S, 2S, 3S, 4S