'Modern' square sail rig

[roly_voya]

\'Modern\' square sail rig

Hi, setting up a square sail and wondered if anyone else has tried it. The idea came from Ron who has a 40ft Hillyard schooner (c1930's) based in Portugal which sets a square sail on the foremast with the sail hoisted to the spar on hallyards rather than stowed aloft. I am setting up a similar rig but as my mast has spreaders have added a mast crane to get the attachment forward enough to give about 25deg swing to the spar. The projected area of the sail will be about the same as a cruising shoot but much easier to handle particularly when dropping. The system on Ron's boat worked so well I wonder why its not more popular, just a fashion thing or is this another case of racing rules dictating cruising style?

 

[nmiller]

Re: \'Modern\' square sail rig

Hi
Probably a case of racing practice rolling over to cruising style. Although the weight of the cro'jack yard aloft could be an issue. L Francis Herreshoff proposed square sails on several of his cruising designs but rigged the sail to the stowed spar before hoisting it on a hallyard.
The sail that you describe has a long pedigree, it was rigged below the spar that spread the foot of square topsails on topsail schooners, and if you look at Cooke's engravings of the early 19th century, it was used on Thames barges and Coast Guard cutters.
It will be interesting to hear how it works.

 

[fishermantwo]

Re: \'Modern\' square sail rig

I like the idea of the spinnaker set up on the Gary Mull designed trailer sailor, I think it was a Mull design anyway. The spinnaker pole pivots on the top of the pulpit, the spinnaker is hoisted and each tack of the sail is attached to the ends of the pole, virtually a "square sail" but upside down, all the weight low down.

 

[Peterduck]

Re: \'Modern\' square sail rig

Yes, that's a really neat arrangment. It was initially devised by American yachtsman Sherman Hoyt, who [I think] also designed the short-lived "Freedom" class of cat-ketches.
Peter.

 

[Bajansailor]

Re: \'Modern\' square sail rig

I was having some thoughts, in view of how 'modern' yachts these days appear to have an affinity for losing their rudders when crossing oceans in the ARC Rally (and independently as well).

The method of flying a spinnaker (described above) using the Hoyt 'gun-mount' (I think that is what he calls it) could be an ideal way of helping to propell a rudderless vessel downwind, as the sail is effectively pulling rather than pushing the vessel.
And because the two clews are attached to the ends of the pole, and the pole swivels about its middle, the sail is effectively well strapped down (unlike a conventional kite).

Combine this with an effective drogue / sea-anchor (call it what you like) streamed off the stern to help stop the boat from broaching, and it could be quite effective, IMHO.

 

[roly_voya]

Re: \'Modern\' square sail rig

Bajan - To 'fix' the problem of an inapropriate rudder setup by designing a sail plan for rudderless sailing reminds me of Larry Pardies argument that roller furling headsails are only needed on boats that are so badly behaved as to make the fordeck uninhabitable - In both cases the answer is to get a boat DESIGNED for cruising not racing or charter. But then I am biased.

The idea of a 'square sail' whit the yard at the bottem is interesting. In my case I would not go that way as the wt aloft is insignificant and I would rther the fullest sail at about spreader hight, keeps it clear of waves and in less turbulent air. Also the sail is more stable as it is supported by all four corners. The final and cruicial difference is that if you work out the area you get the same probles as with a spinacker, only about half the canvass area is effectively projected. A true square sail is like taking the centre driving section out of a spinaker so with a 300ft sq sail I get the same projected area as I would from a 500ft spiny - but with much less cost and hasle