set a button to release spinnaker
set the y button on your controller to open spinnaker, and to let spinnakers have more angle, as you can also have it open on a downwind reach.
I have noticed that once the spinnaker is launched it is possible to come up to wind by at least 20 degrees without losing the spinnaker (or significant speed) yet it is very difficult to get the spinnaker to launch - sometimes impossible. It is very disconcerting to see your opponent flying the spinnaker on exactly the same course as your boat yet you cannot get yours to fly. Race lost.