Freedom Yacht anyone

I'm intrigued - what's more efficient than a bermudian sloop (esp if fractional) to windward?

Maybe this.....

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:D
 
I like a nice pert upright rig... problem with a unstayed rig (Or a tree for that matter) is that eventually it sags away to leeward.....
 
unstayed rigs

Zulu and fifie fishing boats(I had the fun of sailing them as a lad) had solid wooden masts you could hide behind. They didn't do badly to windward either. And dare I mention Pete Goss's last exploit?
 
Wing sails have, er, certain disadvantages....

Biography
"These days I race a lot more than just pottering, once you have the bug...."

....And, of course, this season's 'must have' sunnies. Can't go racing without all the cool gear....! ;)

Er, it's an Aussie catamaran, Ed. No use to you - no SSSN/STYX Numerals, no chance under the Offshore Special Regulations, and no-where to hang Code Flag 'B'... Mind you, there is a special storage for the tinnies! ;)

Besides, everyone knows catamarans are no good going to windward, don't they?


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:D
 
I like a nice pert upright rig... problem with a unstayed rig (Or a tree for that matter) is that eventually it sags away to leeward.....

wings on Boeing 747s sag off to leeward but they still fly well. Issue if to design for the sag. In that respect the Freedoms are a bit crude with the carbon fibre masts being simply tapered tubes. They could be profiled and made less bendy in some directions that others.
 
Lots of illustrations here to show why Freedoms and the like don't catch on.

Some simple physics will show that the stresses on an unstyed rig are considerably lower than on a bermudian racing rig.

If staying was better than unstayed, we'd all be flying in biplanes!

I was told by someone who had owned a Freedom with both that the carbon masts were much better than the earlier alloy ones which had a tendency to fold!
 
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yes. I regularly sail on a Freedom 39 pilot house. Goes well on a reach and downwind. Gets beaten to windward by a Sadler 29 bilge keeler - I know we have raced her and both the skipper and I are regular racers with some trophies.. The carbon fibre masts are bullet proof - I am happy swinging around at the mast top. Wouldnt touch the ally ones with the wrap round sails in comparison. Less wind noise but less to hang onto. Side decks are silly narrow on this model.

The masts are no serious intrustion down below.
 
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I've always thought they are quite clever cruising yachts. Yachtsnet have details on one here http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/boats/g17106/g17106.htm Quite a few good pics as wel.

I think the upwind performance is compromised because the front sail doesn't really act like a jib which enhances the flow over the complete rig but it instead interferes with the flow over the aft sail. However, I do like the unstayed carbon masts and roachy sails. It's not a wonder they are reported to be good off wind. One great advantage is the sails can be feathered completely head to wind.

They look well built, long lived and pretty good value. Trouble is, as said, peeps are conservative and will shy away from this type of thing. The Aero Rig is an alternative.
 
Came within a breath of buying a 35. The lifting keel version is far superior to windward, the rig is completely self tacking, the problem is the hull, balsa cored below the waterline and the surveyors we spoke to cautioned - it is possible to check but only by drilling tiny holes inside. Eventually there will be problems and the price asked on Yachtsnet is crazy, the one we offered on sold for £20k and had the desirable lifting keel.
 
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