self tacking headsail

[willtaylor]

I have a mooring on the Tamar. At some states of the tide the useable channel become narrow. I would like to sail more and use my motor less. To that end It seems to me it would be good to rig a self tacking headsail. I can think of ways, but welcome suggestions from those who know.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Two essential ingredients are a shortfooted headsail that comes back to a foot or so short of the mast, and a track with a traveller (like a mainsheet track) on the foredeck, just in front of the mast. Often the track is curved - I guess to maintain the sheeting angle. The boat I sailed had a single sheet, with the traveller having control lines which allowed the fairlead position to be shifted in and out board. On tacking, the traveller just slide across until stopped by a preset control line. No work whatsoever apart from shoving the tiller over.

Downsides: expense, clutter on the foredeck, small foresail.

 

[Guest]

To test if it works ......

You do not need to fit a track. You fasten a stout line across the foredeck in place of a track. A small block is allowed to run along this line with the sheet passed through it to a lead at the mast foot back to you at the cockpit.

So hoist a storm job or other that is shorter on foot than the distance to mast foot / suitable for lead to the 'rope track above' To keep the shape, you could always fasten a boothook / pole along the sail foot ....

Now trim the boat, normally a smaller reefed main to balance the smaller headsail and see what happens. It is not ideal but gives an impression of whether its worthwhile.

Should it seem to work, then a look at the Hunter / Parker style boats where many have these headsails will show the way to fit it all out.

 

[willtaylor]

Thanks very much to both of you. The thing I was unsure of was where to locate the sheet control. I thought I might have to take it to the tack of the sail, using a boom.