Downwind Sails
Catch the wind. Own the downwind leg.
When the wind shifts aft, the real fun begins. Downwind sails unlock the full potential of your yacht, whether you’re cruising comfortably under a colourful spinnaker in the Caribbean trades or fighting for every tenth of a knot on a racing course.
At 30 Knots, we supply a complete range of downwind sails designed and built by SudWest Sails. Every sail is constructed using sailcloth from the world’s leading manufacturers; Dimension Polyant, Challenge, and Contender, each offering specialised cloth types engineered specifically for downwind performance. Whatever you need, we can build it.
The full downwind range
Our downwind programme covers every point of sail from a deep run to a tight reach:
Symmetrical spinnakers for classic downwind sailing, from light-air runners to heavy-weather heavy-nylon designs. Asymmetric spinnakers (A-sails) for the modern sailor: versatile, easy to handle, and available from light reaching all the way to deep running configurations. Code Zero sails for the gap between your headsail and your spinnaker, built on advanced laminate constructions with Technora X-PLY reinforcement, matched to your boat length for optimal load handling. Gennakers for cruising sailors who want a single do-it-all downwind sail: easy to fly, forgiving to trim, and effective across a wide range of wind angles.
Materials that make the difference
Every downwind sail starts with the right cloth. Cruising spinnakers use a proven nylon range from 38 g/m² up to 113 g/m², selected to match your boat size and intended use. Racing spinnakers are built from performance-coated nylon for maximum strength at minimum weight. Code Zero sails use laminated constructions with Technora or Aramid reinforcement, designed to handle the high clew loads of tight reaching without deformation.
Built to your sail plan
No two downwind sails are the same. Every sail is designed from scratch by SudWest Sails designer Ramses Landman, calculated for your yacht’s specific sail plan, displacement, and the wind conditions you actually sail in. From panel layout and cloth weight to corner reinforcement and edge tapes, nothing is standard.
Request your downwind sail below. We’ll get back to you with a tailor-made quote.
Downwind Sails
From a gentle trade-wind run to a tight reaching angle on the race course — every downwind sail is custom-designed by SudWest Sails, built from sailcloth by Dimension Polyant, Challenge, and Contender.
Code Zero
Reaching · laminate construction
Gennaker
All-round cruising downwind sail
Asymmetric Spinnaker
A1–A5 · Racing & performance
Symmetric Spinnaker
S1 · S2 · SRN · traditional pole setup
Reacher
Tight angles · strong nylon build
Nylite Nylon
Cruising · 38–113 g/m²
Dynakote
Racing · performance-coated
Code Zero Silver
Taffeta · Aramid inserts
Code Zero Black
X-PLY Technora® · new
Fibermax
Contender · 46–218 gsm
Select a material above
Each cloth type is optimised for a specific downwind application. The right choice depends on your sail type, boat size, and whether you prioritise durability or outright performance.
| Style | Weight | Warp denier | Fill denier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nylite 60 | 0.89 oz / 38 g/m² | 30 | 30 |
| Nylite 90 | 1.12 oz / 48 g/m² | 30 | 40 |
| Nylite 150 | 1.75 oz / 75 g/m² | 70 | 70 |
| Nylite 250 | 2.65 oz / 113 g/m² | 140 | 140 |
| Style | Weight | Warp denier | Fill denier |
|---|---|---|---|
| DK 60 | 0.84 oz / 36 g/m² | 30 | 30 |
| DK 75 | 0.93 oz / 40 g/m² | 30 | 30 |
| Boat length (ft) | Recommended style |
|---|---|
| 20 – 25 | CZ05 |
| 26 – 30 | CZ05 / CZ15 |
| 31 – 35 | CZ15 |
| 36 – 40 | CZ15 / CZ30 |
| 41 – 45 | CZ30 |
| 46 – 50 | CZ30 / CZ60 |
| 51 – 55 | CZ60 |
| 55 – 60 | CZ90 |
| Style | Finish | Weight (sm-oz) | Warp/Fill | Aramid Insert | X-PLY Technora® |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CZ05 Black | 0.5 | 1.75 | 50 × 50 | — | 22° / 750 |
| CZ15 Black | 0.5 | 2.10 | 50 × 50 | 2 × 1140 | 22° / 750 |
| CZ30 Black | 0.5 | 2.40 | 50 × 50 | 4 × 1140 | 22° / 750 |
| CZ60 Black | 0.5 | 2.70 | 50 × 50 | 6 × 1140 | 22° / 750 |
| CZ90 Black | 0.75 | 4.70 | 50 × 50 | 8 × 1140 | 22° / 750 |
| Fabric ID | Product | Style | Weight (gsm) | Construction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N-FS44 | Fibermax 44 | 0.75 oz | 46 | 30 × 40 |
| N-FS64 | Fibermax 64 | 1.5 oz | 69 | 70 × 70 |
| N-FS94 | Fibermax 94 | 2.2 oz | 117 | 140 × 140 |
| N-FS144 | Fibermax 144 | 3.4 oz | 142 | 210 × 210 |
| N-FS184 | Fibermax 184 | 4.4 oz | 218 | 420 × 420 |
| N-EL33W | Elite 33 | — | 35 | 30 × 30 |
Standard on every sail
Available options
Every downwind sail is designed from scratch by Ramses Landman —
calculated for your yacht, your sail plan, and the conditions you sail in.