Spinnaker vs. Genoa — What's the Difference?

A spinnaker is a sail designed specifically for sailing off the wind from a reaching course to a downwind, i.e. with the wind 90–180° off bow.

Genoa ( JEN-oh-ə; Italian: Genova [ˈdʒɛːnova] (listen); Ligurian: Zêna [ˈzeːna]; English, historically, and Latin: Genua) is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and the sixth-largest city in Italy. In 2015, 594,733 people lived within the city's administrative limits.

A large triangular headsail secured only at the corners, used on sailboats when running before the wind.

(Nautical) A jib whose leech extends aft of the mast. Also called genoa jib.

(nautical) A sail supplemental to the mainsail, especially a triangular one, used on yachts for running before the wind.

(nautical) A staysail that resembles a jib but extends aft beyond the mast.

(nautical) To sail using a spinnaker

A seaport in northwestern Italy; provincial capital of Liguria

A large triangular sail set upon a boom, - used when running before the wind.

Large and usually triangular headsail; carried by a yacht as a headsail when running before the wind