Square sails

[Neeves]

We we're at anchor and a 'modern' large (55' ish) catamaran motored past.

Its sails were all furled.

It had, what looked like, a gaff or maybe a spritsail rig.

The upper spar was rigged, it looked to be in the location where it would be used.

I confess not to know how it worked (and could not ask).

Does anyone recognise what little I can describe.

Jonathan

 

[HissyFit]

There are still aficionados of gaff rigs amongst modern boat owners, as there are for junk rigs. Maybe you really did see a gaff rigged cat. But, as you said they were motoring, so it doesn't count.

 

[prv]

Sounds like the way the spanker on a square rigger works - I'm actually not sure of the name. A standing gaff, maybe?

When set it works much like any other loose-footed gaff sail, but instead of hoisting the gaff up and down with the sail, the gaff remains in position all the time. The sail is bent on to it semi-permanently, with brailing lines that draw it up and in against the mast and gaff the same way that clewlines and buntlines work on a square sail. Obviously the outhaul has to be long enough to let the clew run forward all the way to the mast - a bit like with in-mast furling, I suppose, except without the car on the boom.

Pete

 

[Wansworth]

Sounds like the way the spanker on a square rigger works - I'm actually not sure of the name. A standing gaff, maybe?

When set it works much like any other loose-footed gaff sail, but instead of hoisting the gaff up and down with the sail, the gaff remains in position all the time. The sail is bent on to it semi-permanently, with brailing lines that draw it up and in against the mast and gaff the same way that clewlines and buntlines work on a square sail. Obviously the outhaul has to be long enough to let the clew run forward all the way to the mast - a bit like with in-mast furling, I suppose, except without the car on the boom.

Pete

Like a thamesbarge

 

[prv]

Like a thamesbarge

Somewhat similar in use, in that both brail up the sail instead of lowering it, but the Thames barges have a sprit instead of a gaff.

Pete

 

[cherod]

A big square sail i would think would be nice for running diwn wind on a cat , often think of it for myself