It may sound like they are talking code but it is the spinnaker designation that has become a standard industry wide. The code is easy to break and once you know it you will be able to completely comprehend the talk around the club.
The spinnaker designations are simple “A” means Asymmetric and “S” means Symmetrical. The numbers signify the wind range and angle that they are built for.
Here is a table showing the spinnaker designation and the wind range for each.
Code Wind Range
1A Light Air Reaching Asymmetrical
2A Light Air Running Asymmetrical
3A Heavy Air Reaching Asymmetrical
4A Heavy Air Running Asymmetrical
5A Extreme Wind Asymmetrical
1S Light Air Reaching Symmetrical
2S Light Air Running Symmetrical
3S Heavy Air Reaching Symmetrical
4S Heavy Air Running Symmetrical
5S Extreme Air Symmetrical
The Code 0 has become famous over the last 6 years is an Asymmetric spinnaker that works like a genoa. Since it has a mid girth is more than 75% of the foot length it measures as a spinnaker but for all intensive purposes it is a genoa. It measuring as a spinnaker allows a boat to have more upwind light air sail area without taking a rating penalty since only the largest spinnaker is rated. This works especial well on boats with a mast head spinnaker and that are fractionally rigged for headsails
