Another Newby Question this time its sails..

[craigbalsillie]

I realise I'm being a pain in the stern but .....

Sails Rigs all that ...
Does anyone know of a decent website (or book) that shows the different types of rig and shows what sails are what..

I'm fairly sure I know the main sail.. but that's about it...
And what's this furling lark all about???

What would be the best rig for a newcomer.. Sloop I'm guessing..

apologies again for annoying the salty sea dogs amongst you..


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[snowleopard]

we all have to start somewhere.

yes, the ideal rig for a beginner is a sloop with a furling headsail (triangular one at the front)

sorry, can't refer you to a website. suspect the best starting point would be a book. plenty of them around, just go into any chandlery.

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[craigbalsillie]

thanks..

I'm hitting the boat jumble at Irvine on Sunday. My first one,, Hope to pick up some books and tips and contacts there..

Hope they are all as helpful there as everyone in here seems to be..

thanks again.

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[LadyInBed]

Try this site <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sailingusa.info/parts_of_the_boat.htm>http://www.sailingusa.info/parts_of_the_boat.htm</A>

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[craigbalsillie]

fantastic.. thanks for that ...NM

.

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[Neal]

Why a sloop with a furler?

Why is a sloop with a furler 'ideal' for a beginner?

I'm not saying it isn't, I'm just intrigued by the absolute degree of your advice.

Aren't there advantages/ disadvantages of all sorts of rig.

For example:

If ease of handling is thought of prime importance, I'd recommend junk rig

if you enjoy fiddling with string, and feel aesthetics are important, consider gaff rig (I'm biased there). Generations of sailors learned sailing skills beyond our comprehension with this rig.

a cutter can give better options in rising winds than a sloop with a furler

some would argue that its best to learn to sail with hanked on sails, rather furlers.

Ketches, yawls, schooners, luggers.......they all add to the interest and beauty of our hobby. All have inherent pros and cons.

Please let's not blindly dismiss them just because they are something of a rarity nowadays.





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[LadyInBed]

Re: junk rig

But where's your pride? Unless you also have a coolie hat and a fan.

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[tom52]

Your post suggests that you are about to commit to a particular rig/boat.
If this assumption is right then I would recomend holding back for a while.
The best sailing rig for an absolute beginner is someone elses.
Crew for someone else or sign up with a sailing school or go on a flotilla holiday.
There is more to this sailing lark than meets the eye and trying simultaneously to do all the sailing handling, collision avoidance, crew management, pilotage, navigation and mooring safely etc. for yourself is likely to put you off for ever.
Apologies if you have already been through this stage in which case ignore all of the above.

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[Neal]

Ever sailed a boat with junk rig, Nigel? NM

*

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[Jean]

Try the latest edition of the "RYA competent crew" book (not the old one). Latest edition is "CCPCN/02". Penny Haire and Sarah Hopkinson have made a great job of it, and it is very well illustrated.

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[Gunfleet]

Re: Why a sloop with a furler?

You're right about people learning on a gaff or similar for a couple of hundred years. However, they tended not to do it short-handed or alone. We tend to take a few lessons, then want to go and have an adventure in a boat on our own - not least because of cost (of instructors). That would be easier in a bermudan or - as you say - junk.

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[graham]

After 35 years of sailing I still browse the local libary sports shelf for sailing books both the learn how to type and yarns about epic voyages.You can learn an immense amount from books which will help you understand whats going on when you go sailing.

Best advise is to join a club and crew on other peoples boats for a season or two .Thias will let you decide what type of boat is most suitable for you without having to buy it first and find out the expensive way .

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[duncan]

Re: Why a sloop with a furler?

I would suggest that one of the reasons for 'recommending' this rig would be that so much advice and training is written around it. Additionally more people can help you out with a degree of confidence.

Whether a 'folkboat' is simple/simpler to sail/learn on or not the above has a lot going for it in practice.

I would certainly not suggest that is either is, or isn't, the best rig - or that any is or isn't for that matter. I might go as far as to suggest that a 'square rigger' might prove a challenge to the single handed sailor - but even that will no doubt trigger a contrary view...../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

Now moving on to the bits below the water line fin, bilge, full length keel? Canoe stern?

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[snowleopard]

Re: Why a sloop with a furler?

why is a sloop 'ideal'?

for the same reason i'd advise a beginner to computing to get a pc. chinese lugsails, gaffers etc. all have their good points but if you learn on the 'vanilla' rig you'll feel at home on 90% of yachts and you can pick up the niceties of other rigs once you have the basics.

what sort of boat will you get if you go to a sailing school for a beginners' course?

and no, i don't have a conventional rig either. anyone who learned with my rig would be totally freaked by a bog standard sloop.

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[Neal]

Depends on the sailing school...

sure most have bmdn sloops, but not exclusively. Isn't this more a reflection of what's built (driven mainly by the charter market), than what's 'best' for the beginner (if such a 'best' can ever exist for all cases).

You've got me very intrigued by your own rig. What is a 'Freewing'? Presumably unstayed? Wingsail? Do tell more!

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[craigbalsillie]

The bit below the water line...

I already have my mind made up about that bit.. from my 3 day sailing experience... (see my profile for an explanation)

I want a lifting keel in my first boat..

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[LadyInBed]

Re: Ever sailed a boat with junk rig, Nigel? NM

No. But sailed a few rigs of junk!

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[Gunfleet]

Re: Why a sloop with a furler?

Full length keel, preferably with an offset prop and a 4 hp motor. It's the only way to extract your full quota of fun out of parking it.

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[snowleopard]

Freewing...

is an unstayed freely rotating wing with the foresail set from the front end of the boom, similar to the Aerorig. it works on the principle of being set at a constant angle of incidence regardless of point of sailing, i.e. the rig is close hauled when the boat is on a broad reach. hence my comments about freaking out beginners.

see <A target="_blank" HREF=http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/kssboat/vwp?.dir=/Modular+Building&.src=gr&.dnm=Snow+Leopard+in+St+Barts.jpg&.view=t&.done=http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/kssboat/lst?&.dir=/Modular+Building&.src=gr&.view=t>here</A>

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[snowleopard]

Freewing...

is an unstayed freely rotating wing with the foresail set from the front end of the boom, similar to the Aerorig. it works on the principle of being set at a constant angle of incidence regardless of point of sailing, i.e. the rig is close hauled when the boat is on a broad reach. hence my comments about freaking out beginners.



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