Odd mast

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Can anyone please explain the mast shown on the yacht by Urquhart Castle on p95 of December's Yachting World?

For those without a copy to hand, it appears to have a V-shape on the deck with the mast in the middle of the V - alsmost as if a large arrow has been shot vertically into the boat from above. It's difficult to see detail, but it looks as if one side of the V is supporting the boom, with the other towards the bow and not appearing to support anything though a forestay may be attached to it. (the sails are stowed in the photograph). The mast also appears to taper significantly towards the top.

I've not seen anything like it before - can anyone provide any information please?
 
Haven't seen the picture, but from your description it sounds very like an unconventional rig similar to the Freewing rig.

The boat in question (a monohull) sporting this rig has been on the canal for a number of years - never seen her sailing though. Last time I saw her, she was laid up ashore at Caley Marine
 
There is a boat of around 30 ft on the canal with a freewing. Dark green hull, white upperworks, called Elma Lee. Could that be the one?
 
The photo shows a white hulled yacht - not a multi-hull.

I don't think it's a freewing as the forward part of the V is not long enough to support a headsail.
 
Ah, now I know what it is. I think it must be one of the very first freewings on a boat called Skyline. The boom was formed a V with the aft leg extended to hold the main and the forward end intended for a removable pole for an asymmetric.
 
These are not deck spreaders as seen on boats with wing masts?

If so, as RKJ for details

00009915_p.jpg



00009829_p.jpg
 
The aft leg does not replace the boom - it looks like a vang but I can't see how it would work as one. My guess is that it's got a lot more to do with the way the mast is supported, especially given the unusual taper of the mast.
 
I had a look in YW in Smiths today and can confirm it is Skyline with the freewing rig. The mast is seen edge-on so the fact that it's a wing is not apparent.

The arrangement is that the mast and boom are independantly pivoted on a central pillar. The boom which extends fore and aft of the pillar is cantilevered with the boom extending aft (less visible in the picture as it's hidden by the sail cover. If you look at the photos in Shanty's link you will see the new style of boom which is straight through instead of the earlier cranked arrangement. (The first couple of pages of photos on the site are of Snow Leopard)
 
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