Foresail on a Schooner, Ideas?

S

Simes

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 Jan 2005
Messages
362
Location
IofW
Visit site
We have a Stays'l Schooner, Gaff on the main and three stas'ls twix the masts, two "Fishermans" and one "Yankee".
I think that we would like to become a "Proper" Schooner and fit a second Gaff twixt the masts. Have been reading John Leathers Gaff Handbook for ideas and all seem to have a low boom at the foot of the sail. Any ideas about how I would rig a loose footed sail? Or do I have to either have a high boom (over 7 feet above deck to clear any errant heads) or a low possibly damaging boom?
All ideas welcome

Many thanks

Simes
 
What's not "proper" about a staysail schooner? Also, given that a staysail by definition, sets on a stay how will you support the main mast? If you already have a stay to the foremast head you may need to beef it and the forestay up to carry the additional load, if not you will probably need to consider rigging same. equally you may be increasing the loading on the foremast by the extra sail area you will attaching to it.
 
To answer your second question, nothing wrong with a loose footed main at all. The sheet may have to be led a little differently but thats about it. America had a loosefooted foresail when she won the first americas cup.
 
The schooner Maggie B (designed by Nigel Irens) has a loose footed foresail that overlaps - some photos and info at http://schoonermaggieb.net/

However I would be inclined to agree with Hyperborean that a staysail schooner is still very 'proper' and no doubt yours is very pretty as well. Taking into account all the extra rigging modifications that will probably have to be carried out to convert her, might it be better to leave her how she is?
 
As much as anything else we were also thinking of short handed sailing, the more sails we can make self tending then the easier it should be.
I can't think of a way of successfully making the Yankee or the fishermen self tending.
I have not fixed any deck eyes as yet and I wish to avoid winches. Blocks are not a problem (I have a pattern so can produce as many as Talisman needs) so tackles will abound, I would rather have the staysails but fear that ease of use will force the issue.

Simes
 
Just following the thread after my usual surf of the forum and I followed Bajansailor's link to the Maggie B site. It was a totally depressing moment when I saw that the boat had been destroyed by fire on the 11th of this month. I'd not seen anything of the boat before but she was beautiful and obviously well known to others. I can only imagine how devastating it must be to find your greatest pride and joy and labour of love reduced to nothing more than a pile of smoking ashes. I'm sure that everyone would join me in expressing to Frank Blair how sad we are for his loss.
 
I was considering saying 'had' rather than 'has' - but then I thought that her spirit lives on, and I wouldn't be surprised if her Owner commissions a new Maggie B phoenix to rise from her ashes - she very much deserves to be built again, and I do hope that Covey Island or another quality boat builder will be able to do this.
 
I think what you want is the arrangement Conor O'Brian had on "Saiorse". It is described in his book "Across Three Oceans", as is his humourous account of sailing around the world in the 1920s. A man who didn't take life too seriously and so lived an enjoyable one.
 
You don't say much about your boat - size, design etc., so difficult to offer much advice on sail plan (not that I am particulalry expert!)

However, for inspiration you might find John G Alden and His Yacht Designs by Carrick and Henderson useful. As you no doubt know, most of his early designs were schooners with fishing boat derived self tending rigs. The book has masses of sail plans of schooners and discussion in the text on developments and rationale for changes.

By observation most of his boats had a Gaff foremainsail on a boom sheeted just in front of the mainmast on the coachroof. Most seem quite low, guess because crew were not expected to go on the coachroof in that part of the boat.

Hope this helps
 
Probably a better reference even than the Alden one, is Howard Chapelle's work on The Schooner, as it goes into all the fittings used in some detail. A masterly work, in true Chapelle style.
Peter.
 
With a loose-footed sail you can brail it up quickly for visibility.

Or as a variant, there are sails that are boomed as far aft as the mainmast, then are loose-footed beyond that to give overlap.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top