Square sail in Aug PBO - anyone used one?

[chrisedwards]

I have recently converted a cheap plastic rowing boat into a simple sailing dinghy, and gave it a home-made standing lug rig.

It occured to me that this is really only a lop-sided square sail. I believe the Viking ships could sail to windward by hauling the yard down at one side and securing it forward. It then becomes almost a fore and aft sail. A lateen sail is another inbetween variant.

The modern junk sail can be pulled across the mast (in ten seconds) when the wind is astern to become the perfect trade wind sail (no weight on the helm at all).

It (the modern variation) is also fast on the wind, wins club races, and is beautiful to behold.